Principal Karen Bingert: Celebrate Unity of Class

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  Welcome to the 40th Annual Commencement Ceremony for Hillsborough High School.  Class of 2011, your day has arrived!

You’ve probably spent a lot of time looking in the mirror lately.  First, there was your Senior Prom, that night of elegance and formal attire, where each young lady insisted that every hair was in place, the shoes matched the one-of-a-kind gown perfectly, the nails were delicately manicured, and the make-up was flawless.  And gentlemen, don’t even try to tell us that you didn’t work for your own look.  The swagger with which you carried yourselves all night long spoke volumes!  Just before leaving your house, you stood in the living room or on the front steps and let your parental paparazzi snap thousands of pictures of you, as you urged them to hurry but silently relished the feeling of being so very grown up.  Let me let you in on a secret though.... the pictures in your parents’ minds were of the girls wearing Mom’s high heels and make-up, everything too big and too colorful and... well... too cute.  For the boys, it was that snapshot moment of the first time you tied your own tie... a little too long in the back and too short in the front... and the haircut you gave yourself right before school pictures.  Back to prom attire, though, the point was to look fantastic, be an individual, and show that you are someone special.

The next time you looked in the mirror may have been those mad-dash moments leaving the house to get to Spirit Night.  Class t-shirt – check!  Matching socks – check!  Face paint – check!  Senior sweatband – check!  Maybe you kissed your folks goodbye or just shouted, “See ya later!” as you darted out the door, and all they saw were your t-shirt, matching socks, face paint, and sweatband, reminding them of that carnival you went to on vacation or that summer camp you attended or that first year playing rec sports, and they remembered having to hide the t-shirt for a while so you would stop wearing it every single day.  (By the way, it’s hidden in the same place as your Spiderman costume, fairy princess gown, and Harry Potter cape.)  

Back to Spirit Night, after you swarmed into the gym screaming, “This is our house!” you entered the stands and went from being individuals to being a part of something big together.  You became the Class of 2011, and you celebrated the unity of your class, showing that great things can be done when you work together.

You probably looked in the mirror a lot today, too.  It’s a little like the best of both worlds... underneath those graduation gowns you are the individuals you have become, but for one last time you have donned the accoutrements of an entire class, wearing Raider red and mastering the mortar boards atop your heads.  But those gazes into the looking glass today were different, just as the glances of your parents have been different all day.  Today, you viewed your future self, hopefully with the wisdom of the past bolstering you.  Today, your parents recalled every moment of your childhood and wistfully wondered where the time had gone.  They looked in their own mirrors and questioned if they have given you every chance to seize the opportunities presented to you as you came to this point of your lives and if they have set you on a path to success.  Without a doubt, they have. 

As you start on your journey as HHS alumni, I hope that you take those moments to assess yourself in that mirror, not just the exterior of adulthood but the interior core of kindness, fairness, grace, dignity, and respect.  It is there that you will find all the success and happiness you will ever need.  I wish you the best of journeys, Class of 2011!

We have a number of people to thank today:

Let’s start now by remembering the people who have helped you succeed.  I ask that the parents and guardians of our graduates stand for a moment.  Graduates, please show your appreciation for their love and support.

Your teachers have also been there to challenge you, entertain you, and mold you into the fine students and life-long learners that you have become.  Would all Hillsborough Township teachers and staff members please stand.  Please join me in thanking them for their tireless devotion to you inside the classroom and in the many extracurricular activities offered at HHS.

I also want to mention our retirees who have dedicated their lives to their passion for education…  Mrs. Karin Benton, Mrs. Jo Casey, Mrs. Suzanne Faherty, Mr. Gary Keck, Mr. Bill Spears, Mrs. Sonia Tyson, Mrs. Arlene Varchi,  Mrs. Cindy Woodall – thank you for everything and best wishes for a wonderful retirement!  I also want to take a moment to remember Mr. Paul Parker, who we lost unexpectedly in December, and to send our thoughts to Mr. Progin as he recuperates from surgery and begins his treatments.

We have a number of other people to thank for their assistance in planning and presenting this graduation ceremony.

• Our award-winning band and its directors, Mrs. Jules Haran and Ms. Ali Carraher
• Our amazing choir under the direction of Mrs. Christine Micu,
• Mr. Jim Schoof, who prepared the program
• Senior class advisors, Mrs. Lynne Derwid and Ms. Ellen Weller, who will be introducing every single one of our graduates in a few minutes
• The amazing custodial and maintenance staff and their supervisor, Mr. Dave Frusco, for their setup, cleanup, and beautification of the facilities
• My secretary, Mrs. Teresa LaGreca, who has been just amazing and is responsible for the detailed planning of much that you see today.
• The three vice principals:  Mrs. Evette Chaney, Mr. Jay Majka, and Mr. Mike Simborski for all of their work behind the scenes.
• Ms. Hillary Charney, Director of Guidance, and all of the guidance counselors and members of the Child Study Team – you do amazing things for our students
• The Hillsborough Township Police, Fire Company, and EMS squad for their support today and everyday
• The members of the central office administration and board of education for all they do to make Hillsborough Township Schools places of true, academic excellence and places where our students can have fun.