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Ranney Promotes its Fifth and Eighth Graders to Next Division

The classes of 2019 and 2022 celebrate leadership and service as they move up to the Middle and Upper Schools.
Two special ceremonies were held the week of June 8, 2015, to celebrate, honor and promote the Classes of 2019 and 2022. The eighth-grade class of 79 students held its “Rising” ceremony on June 12 to celebrate the students’ end of Middle School and promotion to the Upper School. The fifth-grade class of 49 students held its “Crossing the Lawn” ceremony on June 11 to represent the crossing from Ranney’s Lower School to Middle School.

Lower School
During the Crossing the Lawn ceremony, several students had a chance to speak at the podium, including Maya Jacoby, Thomas Boyan, Jett Pacifico, Winston Kelenc-Blank, Samantha Lazzaro, Lily Egol and Mustafa Ahmad. They helped to introduce the school leadership and various portions of the ceremony, which was led by fifth-grade teachers Mrs. Cicco, Mrs. Fowlkes, Mrs. Moruzzi and Mrs. Mitreuter as well as Lower School Assistant Head Allison Reddington and Head Dr. Andrea Danial. Dr. Danial addressed the class, noting, “These students have invested their curiosity, creativity and energy… and they continue to be concerned about others. As fifth graders, they model their leadership daily and we know they will carry on their love for learning.”

Head of Ranney School Dr. John W. Griffith also addressed the group. “We’re marking a milestone today, a stage in a real journey which will culminate in the year 2022…. The Middle School experience will bring a lot of growth and new exciting adventures and we know you will lead honorably, think creatively and contribute meaningfully. Congratulations!”

Toward the end of the ceremony, incoming Middle School Head Matthew Hall welcomed the students to the next division. “You’re coming from an incredible Lower School and have just begun to discover all you can do,” he said. “We share this new beginning together and I’m so excited for the fall!”

After the ceremony portion, students crossed the lawn between the two divisions of the school’s campus—the lawn was lined with cheering family members, teachers, Lower School students and friends.

Middle School
During the Rising ceremony, student members of the Middle School Honor Code Committee presented their thoughts on the three words that make up Ranney School’s motto, Knowledge, Vision and Honor. These students included Jacob Field, Sathya Edamadaka and Shana Fitzmaurice.

Said Sathya about vision, “Ranney teaches us directly and indirectly how to think of ideas and then to jump on those ideas…. Vision is a two-sided coin—one side is the idea and one is the means and methods to carry it out.” He noted how the knowledge provided by teachers and the honor that surrounds the school community can help students to achieve their vision.

Fundraising committee co-chairs Isabella Del Negro and Alex Klatsky presented Dr. Griffith with the eighth-grade class gift of just over $2,300.00, largely raised by a recent color run (View the video). Also speaking at the event were Rohan Sharma, Samantha Riebesell and Shayna Field.

The ceremony was led by Dr. Griffith, current Middle School Head David Fischer and Assistant Head David Ketcham and featured vocalists and string ensemble members, directed by Ranney’s music directors Mrs. Lillianne P. Torrente and Dr. Dorothy Sobieski, respectively. Said Mr. Fischer, who is moving on from Ranney at the end of this school year, “In this class, you will find some of the most deeply interesting and intelligent students ever to challenge our faculty…. They are the best collection of eighth-graders I’ve ever encountered.”

The following awards were given to eighth-graders as part of their year-end ceremonies:
  • Trustees’ Award for Excellence (presented to students that have consistently demonstrated their commitment to scholarship and high academic achievement): Jacob Egol, Jacob Field and Ben Kraushaar
  • Tushar Bhatnagar Award (presented to students who present leadership in the classroom and in sportsmanship): Ethan Gavin and Katherine Geraghty
  • Middle School Leadership Award (presented to two members of the eight-grade class whose demonstrated decisive and successful leadership has resulted in observable achievements that have enhanced the quality of life at school): Ryan Batista and Shana Fitzmaurice
  • The Ann Kappel Citizenship and Service Award (presented to students who have best demonstrated generosity of spirit and thoughtfulness to all): Jack Crilly and Samantha Riebesell
  • Middle School Panther Perseverance Award (presented to students who have met life’s experiences with a positive spirit and good humor, thereby serving as an inspiration to the Ranney community): Michael Dettro and Evie Puvalowski
  • Panther Pride Award (given at the Blue & White Dinner): Ethan Gavin and Himani Nayyar
  • Citizenship Award (given at the Blue & White Dinner): Shana Fitzmaurice, Ethan Gavin, Samantha Riebesell and Brandan Whiteman
  • Community Service Awards (given at the Blue & White Dinner): Ryan Batista, Jacob Egol, Himani Nayyar and Olivia Pasquale.
After receiving their awards and certificates of promotion, incoming Head of the Upper School Katie Gibson  and Upper School Student Council President-Elect Jerome Cohen gave a warm welcome to the new upper-classmen. In her address, Ms. Gibson advised students to not only pursue their academic goals and make new friends, but also to get to know their teachers, coaches, advisors and mentors in the classroom and beyond. “Open yourselves and let these incredible teachers inspire you,” she said. “You will always remember the teachers in your lives and these relationships will last forever. When you have integrity in your relationships, everything else will fall into place.”
 
A Fond Farewell for Both Classes
Both classes closed out their academic year with the presentations of their Capstone research projects (read more about this Ranney tradition). They also celebrated with the annual Blue & White Dinner for eighth-graders and luau party for fifth graders. Below are links to highlights from each class’s hard work and contributions throughout the 2014-15 school year, as outlined in the programs. Congratulations to all students on your achievements!

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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.