The Glen Rock Middle School 8th Grade Promotional Exercises were held on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the GRMS/HS Auditorium.
The ceremony began with a heartfelt welcome by Ms. Michelle Giurlando, MS/HS Principal, who noted what a privilege it has been to witness the middle school students’ transformation into young people prepared to take their next steps in their educational and personal journeys. She left them with inspiring words as they celebrate not only their past three years of accomplishments, but also all that is to come as members of the Glen Rock High School Class of 2029.
“Before us sits the Class of 2029, having matured exponentially yet with so much more potential for academic and personal growth,” she said. “I am confident that this group is ready for the next step and will meet the challenges of high school with the same sense of wonder, determination, and tenacity that I saw when I first met them as rising fifth graders and that I witness each day in the halls of GRMS. Graduates, congratulations. I am proud of each and every one of you, and I look forward to seeing what you do next.”
After hearing from student speakers, Jennie McGowan and Maya Coskun, in addition to faculty speaker, Ms. Kristine Heinemann, Special Education teacher and 2025 GRMS Educator of the Year, Citizenship and Leadership Awards were then presented. Commander Robert Steinberg of the Thomas D. Egan Glen Rock Post #850 VFW presented the special awards, courtesy of GRHS Class of 1983 Citizenship Award winner, Robert O’Shea; Class of 1984 graduate, Michele Bandazian O’Shea; and the O’Shea Family Foundation. These awards are meant to demonstrate admiration for and further inspire youth leadership and activism. Congratulations to Middle School Citizenship Award recipients, Santino Capitanello and Emma Gonzalez, and Middle School Leadership Award recipients, Kyle Eugenio and Amelia Heaney.
Promotional Ceremony attendees heard from two more student speakers, Alexis Lee and Grace Melnicki, prior to the presentation of promotional certificates by Ms. Giurlando; Ms. Allyson Getch, Mathematics teacher; Ms. Elhaam Manoochehri, GRMS counselor; Mrs. Donna Maasrani, Social Studies teacher; and Mrs. Regina Scotti, English teacher.
The ceremony concluded with a recessional played by the Glen Rock School Band, under the direction of Mr. Evan Wasek, Band Director. Glen Rock Public Schools send sincere congratulations to the Class of 2025 8th graders and Glen Rock High School Class of 2029!
Click here to visit our Facebook page to view more photos from the Promotion Ceremony, courtesy of Kacper Majewski '27 and Tara Hopfenspirger.
