UPDATED: TMHS Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates Past, Present, Future

A month-long celebration of the opening of the new Tewksbury Memorial High School concluded on Thursday with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and the dedication of the school state-of-the-art performing arts center.

The performing arts center is named in honor of former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine McGrath, who served in that position for 19 years and was credited with being a driving force in the planning and ultimately the construction of the new school.

"You were the wind beneath the wings of this project," said THMS Principal Brenda Theriault-Regan.

In a stirring and touching speech, TMHS Librarian Mary Eldringhoff (Mrs. E) shared several anecdotes regarding McGrath, her amazing memory and the impact she has had on the students and staff members of Tewksbury's schools over the years.

"It is my belief that Christine McGrath was gifted with an internal compass …her very own “True North” that guided and directed all of her actions.  The words written on the compass are simple -- 'Am I doing the best I can for the people I serve?'" said Eldringhoff. "If it takes a village to raise a child … the village itself needs a clear direction to follow … continuing guidance to remain on the path  …and stalwart leadership to help them hang in there for the long haul. It is helpful to the village if your superintendent has an internal compass.  She did and she delivered …all of the qualities we needed on a daily basis for 19 years."

(The complete text of Eldringhoff's remarkable speech, as well as a speech by Senior Class President Kim Tecce  can be found attached to this article as PDF documents.)

McGrath said she was humbled by the honor but said the performing arts center is much less about her and much more about the promise it holds for the future of Tewksbury's students.

"This is an exciting day for of the possibility that this center holds for you, the students of Tewksbury High School," she said, speaking directly to the Tewksbury High students in attendance at the ceremony. "This facility will provide a fitting venue for your many wonderful dramatic productions, your holiday concert, your spring concert."

The ceremony also included the unveiling of a portrait of McGrath, painted by Jennifer Barbati, the art teacher at the Trahan School. The portrait will have a permanent home in the auditorium.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by many school department, local and state officials, including Massachusetts State Building Administration Director Jack McCarthy. Also in attendance were members of the design, management and constructions teams responsible for erecting the new Tewksbury High complex.

McCarthy and Theriault-Regan teamed to officially cut the ribbon with the ceremonial giant scissors.