Seniors, their families and friends, and faculty/staff came together to celebrate the Class of 2026 at Senior Night. In addition to hearing from Interim Head of School Sarah Pelmas, class representatives Henry Davidson, Massimo Müllberg, and Neal Mahidhar also delivered speeches to their peers. “Thank you all for showing up for each other, supporting each other at sports games, plays, art shows and more” Massimo said. “It’s been a pleasure to spend the last two years of my life with you, my classmates and friends. I look forward to seeing all the great things every last one of you guys will accomplish.”
Senior Night also served as the official launch of the yearbook, with yearbook editors Lily Chorev and Willa Gaebler taking to the podium to announce this year’s yearbook appreciation—which went to Director of Academic Services Lesley Colognesi—and yearbook dedication—which went to Upper School Math Teacher Joe Robinson. Seniors were the first to pick up their yearbooks following the ceremony.
A particularly joyous moment came when seniors viewed two student-made videos. The first was a slideshow featuring images from 6th grade through senior year, highlighting the time the Class of 2026 has spent together at Beaver. Following this, students watched a signing off video in which each senior signed their name.
As per Senior Night tradition, seniors voted on a member of the Beaver community to deliver a speech. This year, Jodi Walker, Theories of Punishment teacher, was selected. Read her speech below!
Hey there, Beaver Class of 2026!
In June of 2022, my family and I traveled to Alaska. We planned great adventures. I was especially focused on being prepared for the bears. When we arrived in Alaska, I asked our guide all about them. He taught us the rules for encountering a bear: Don’t run. Stand still and together as a group. Talk to the bear. Be loud. Be big. You are not prey. And, do not take out your phone and videotape. I practiced those rules, envisioned what I would do if I came across a bear… and I may have taken a video…
We’ll get back to the bear!
When I found out last month that you—the Class of 2026—selected me to speak tonight, I was so moved. What a surprising honor! Since the fall of last year, I have had the pleasure and joy of teaching 57 of the 87 seniors in this class. I feel like I know almost all of you so well. I love you all, with so much pride. And I still had no idea what I should say tonight.
I thought about what my beloved mentor and friend, Yolanda Wilcox González, would suggest. I am here tonight because of her, what she taught me, and what she still inspires in me, just like I know Yolanda taught and inspires so many of you.
So if Yolanda were coaching my speech tonight, she would tell me: know your audience (CHECK), have visual aids (CHECK), do your research for reliable data, because without data, it’s only just an opinion. I know Yolanda would have also coached me to have student participation!
It turns out that there isn’t a lot of specific, quantifiable data on giving graduation speeches. The data says 4 things: Very few students remember graduation speeches—who spoke, what the content or theme was. Students do remember their feelings and apparently, sometimes, the weather, during graduation speeches. Almost all graduation speeches have the same tips. Almost all graduation speeches have the same themes.
So, the data helped a little: don’t give advice tonight with the same old tips and themes that you will not remember. Then I had an AH-HA moment; there is no great wisdom for me to impart to you. I only need to reflect back a simple truth: over your years at Beaver, you have built the foundation that you need, to keep learning, growing, and contributing to the world.
Just as I prepared for my encounter with a bear, each of you has done the work to prepare for what comes next—in classrooms, on courts and fields, on stages, in studios, and with your families, friends, and teachers. You have built personal and life rubrics, you already know all you need to know. Now, of course you don’t have all the content or skills yet. What I mean when I say that you know all you need to know is this: you have built the structure and the framework to successfully learn and navigate the world. And for those of you who doubt me, I’ll prove it. Class participation time! Let’s pretend we are in C7, raise your hand if you know the answers…
When it comes to big assignments or incredibly complex tasks, how do you eat that elephant? One bite at a time!
When it comes to deadlines, how do you deal with them? Meet them, and communicate ahead of time if you can’t!
When you don’t know how to approach an assignment, what should you read? Read the rubric!
When you are confused, worried, or overwhelmed with a project, task, or situation, what do you do? Ask for help!
This is fun! We could do this all night long. Look at the rubrics you have inside of you!
You know that community is also part of your personal rubrics. Look around you—at your friends, family, mentors. Can you feel the pride, support, and love in this room for you?
My dad, Jerry Walker—a history teacher for 35 years who handed me my high school diploma 35 years ago this month—still supports me as a teacher today. Maybe, like me, you learned this year that even when beloved friends and mentors are not physically present, they are still with you if you close your eyes—they are there cheering you on, whispering advice, reminding you they love you.
When you encounter a gap in your rubrics—as we all do, because we are all still learning—when you don’t yet have a skill or some knowledge, you know who to ask: The people in this room. The people in your heart.
So when the moment arrives for you, when you encounter your bear, maybe with equal parts excitement and terror, your learning and instincts will kick in. Nobody feels prepared, and yet I assure you: you are.
Stand tall and big. Don’t run. Be loud. Say to yourself: “Hey there, bear.” Maybe though, keep your phone in your pocket…