Class of 2013 Begins Life as Graduates

Barrington High School’s Class of 2013 began their lives as graduates Sunday afternoon.

The annual graduation exercises drew an overflow crowd to the bleachers at Victory Field to see 242 seniors given diplomas from School Committee Vice chair Kate Brody and Principal Joseph Hurley, who served as master of ceremonies.

Puffy white clouds filled the blue skies and temperatures in the high 70s created a beautiful late spring day for the 90-minute ceremony. 

Senior class president Olivia August set the stage with the welcoming address. She used the Toy Story movie trilogy as her frame of reference.

“We were growing up alongside them,” August said of the characters in the film series.

At the end, she said: “We are like Andy in Toy Story 3. He had to decide what to keep and what to leave behind. We have to decide what we will carry with us and what we will leave behind.”

Fortunately, August said, “the skills and memories we learned here at Barrington High School will keep me from worrying. I have been inspired and empowered.” 

“It is truly an honor to have been among this group of students,” she said. “I know each will make a difference as we pass the torch to create space for new adventures.”

“Take with you what is important,” she said. “This isn’t goodbye but good luck. Remember that the past is as much a part of you as the future.”

Karl Aspelund and Alice Hamblett also addressed their classmates. They read the essays that were chosen by teachers and staff for the ceremony. 

The senior class also said goodbye to two retiring teachers: Priscilla Abrahamson, English department head for many years, and John P. “Coach” Medeiros, a physical education teacher. 

Hurley had some special words for this class during his presentation of them. They came into the high school as freshmen during his first year as principal in 2009, he said.

“We began our journey together,” Hurley said. “I found that I had a great support group.”

“We all made some mistakes,” he said. “But I think there's been a fair share of success. They grabbed headlines for all the right reasons.” 

In particular, he said, this class showed it has compassion and love for mankind. He used the senior projects as examples.

“Eighty-five seniors focused on projects that helped others,” he said, including working on a domestic violence hotline, creating art with the mentally ill, and putting together another Relay for Life for the America Cancer society.”

The class also was determined to remain strong during a year of devastating crises, such as the Newtown school shooting, Hurricane Sandy and the Boston Marathon bombing. They raised, for instance, about $22,000 at a dinner for New Dorp High School on Staten Island, destroyed by the hurricane.

Right up to their last day of classes, Hurley said, the class showed its heart by making lemonade, iced coffee and waffles for teachers.

“They left a legacy that other classes will have to strive to match,” he said.

Click here to see a list of the 242 members of the Class of 2013 at Barrington High School.