Felicia Schinella explained to her eighth-grade class, she’s been where they are.
Poughkeepsie Middle School’s interim principal grew up in the Rip Van Winkle apartments, two miles from the school.
“I learned that my dreams don’t have to match my surroundings,” she told them. “They can be bigger. You can be bigger. They can take you further. No matter where you’re from, you can rise.”
The students celebrated the latest step in that ascension Tuesday at their Eighth Grade Recognition Ceremony. More than 180 students earned the right to take part in the ceremony, the largest class since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Schinella told them.
Fittingly for the students who in the fall will be attending Poughkeepsie High School, the ceremony was held in the high school building due to this week’s extreme heat.
The ceremony began with the presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance performed by the high school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, followed by the national anthem performed by the middle school’s band. Members of the middle school drama club then sand the national anthem, followed by “America the Beautiful.”
In addition to handing out completion certificates to each student, the ceremony served as an opportunity to present Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers’ Awards in such areas as excellence and improvement in the key areas of ELA, math, social studies, science language and health, as well as citizenship, empathy and other categories.
Poughkeepsie High School Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian Jhanae Stewart and Salome Vergara, respectively, served as the guest speakers. Both touched on the key ideas of what it takes to succeed in high school and the importance of being active members of the school community.
“Without students,” Vergara told the eighth graders, “Poughkeepsie High School is just a building.”
Stewart reminded them, everyone who would be speaking was once in the position those eighth graders are now sitting.
In high school, she advised, “Be involved. Join that club. Try out for that team. Volunteer for something that makes you feel nervous. The more you step into things that stretch you., the more you discover what you love, and what you’re capable of. Involvement isn’t just about filling out your college application one day. It’s about (becoming) a person who contributes, who leads, who shows love and who makes a difference in their community.”
Before each student crossed the stage to pick up their certificates and shake hands – and some hugs – with building and district leadership, Schinella shared her reflections on two years with the class. Before serving as interim principal this year she was their assistant principal last year.
She told them, “you are full of potential. … You are strong. You are opinionated. You are bold and bright and full of fire. That is not hard, it’s powerful.”
Schinella is moving to the high school herself next year to serve as an assistant principal. She told the class she’s committed to guiding them to their next graduation ceremony four years from now.
“Over these past two years I have built bonds with many of you and your families. I’ve seen your passion, your leadership and your creativity, and even your growing pains,” she said. “Through it all, you’ve shown up. You continue to show up. And you’ve made us all very proud of you.
“You worked hard,” she told them. “You deserve this.”