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caption:
Taking a Pause
A Putnam High School graduate pauses after taking her seat at commencement exercises held June 7, 2021, at the St. Marie Greenhalgh complex. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.
Captions on page 4:
top: Performance and Pride
Brenna Fowler, left, performs "Rise Up" by Andra Day at the Putnam High School commencement June 7. Above, her aunt, Lachanda Jones, who traveled here from Chicago, videoed her performance, brimming with pride.
Above: It was 91 degrees and there were plenty of umbrellas scattered across the St. Marie Greenhalph field. Right: A toddler spotted someone familiar and waved.
On their way in
PHS class conquers
extraordinary
challenges
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Proud family and friends seemed to scarcely notice the scorching 91-degree temperature as Putnam High School celebrated its 144th commencement June 7.
COVID-19 permeated schooling for the last year and one-half but this class persevered — and stunningly, according to Principal Jacqueline Vetrovec. She said the class was kind, honest, humble and resourceful in the face of the last 15 months.
Brooke Peloquin, valedictorian, said the class faced all the “typical issues — but on steroids.” Issues classmates never had to worry about before, like “will the Wi-Fi go out during the remote exam?” and “will there be a prom” were always challenging, and overcome.
Resourcefulness and perseverance will serve this class as they go into the future, said Board of Education President Jill Zangerl.
And Emma Fisk, reciting the Class Ode, reminded her classmates that they might be “6 feet apart but they’ll never be apart.”
Superintendent of Schools Daniel P. Sullivan III encouraged the graduates to stay open minded.
Awards given included: Educator of the Year: John Allen; Citizen of the Year: Laurie Bernier; Student of the Year: Haddijatou Mbye.
Graduates
Randa Tamima Aldarawcheh, Greyson M. D. Anderson (HH, NHS), Abbigail M. Anthony, Elijah Antonelli, Kalai K. Ayau, Joe Barnett, Nathan Donald Barylski (HH), Duston T. Bonin, Emma R. Braithwaite (HH, NHS). Christian Breton, Johnathan Carita (HH), Laylah J. Chavez (HH, NHS), Alexandra G. Coderre, Samantha Dempsey, Abigail L. Desrosiers, Samantha Eve Enders, Harley L. Field (H), Emma Dawn Fisk, Chad Robert Flick, Brenna Fowler (H), Nicholas Fredette, Mary Hicks, Alex Marie Hutchins (HH, NHS), Anna Alexandra Ionkin (HH, NHS), Randy E. Johnson, Chloe Marie Kerr, Cheyenne King, Alexis B. Kurtyka (H), Catherine LaForest (HH), Ethan Latendresse (HH), Jordan Levesque, Colby M. Livingston (H), Jack E. Lomax (H), Adriana L. Maltais (HH), Timothy Maryanov, Haddijatou Mbye (HH), Dylan J. McCaughey, Lesbia Yojana Morente Mendez (H), Julie Ann Morris (HH). Mackenzie Oleszewski (HH), Abbigail I. Pelletier (H), Brooke Anah Peloquin (HH, NHS), Mackenzie Alexis Peloquin (HH, NHS), Jamie Victoria Petre (HH), Emma Kate Rudman (HH, NHS), Michayla Rugh (H), Tyler Everett Shippee (HH), Bethany F. Smith (HH, NHS), Abby Lynn St. Martin (HH, NHS), Oscar H. Steinbrick (H), Haley Syrjala (HH, NHS), Alexis Rena-Jean Thompson (H), Morgan Toutant (H), Devan Edward Velie, Maggie A. Wojciechowski (H).
Valedictorian: Brooke Anah Peloquin
Salutatorian; Mackenzie Alexis Peloquin
(H) = Cumulative average of 85% and above
(HH) = Cumulative average of 90% and above
(NHS) = National Honor Society