It was a reunion of sorts. Former Circleville Elementary School students who are members of the Pine Bush High School graduating class of 2023 met with their former fifth-grade teachers and principal Thursday to celebrate reaching a milestone they all promised to do way back in 2016.

Seven years ago, the fifth graders at Circleville Elementary School signed that promise to graduate high school on time and go on to either college or a trade school. Then-principal Amy Brockner, who is now the district’s assistant superintendent for instruction, had teamed up with her fifth-grade teachers – Robin Conklin, Susan Corcoran, Lauren Casamento, Sean Healy and Andrea Urmston – to encourage the students who were moving up to middle school to stay focused on the importance of graduating high school.

 

 

Here we are in 2023 and graduation is just two weeks away for these young adults. Those promises made back in 2016 and signed in a child’s penmanship brought much joy to the students and their former teachers. There were three students from the CES class of 2017 who are graduating early in attendance too. 

 

 

The teachers brought the 2016 and 2017 edition of the CES yearbook to look through with their former students. They enjoyed trying to figure out who was who – some kids look just the same while others changed dramatically.

 

 

Mrs. Brockner and the fifth-grade teachers gave the signed promises back to the students along with a certificate of accomplishment. They laughed at their signatures written all those years ago and relished being together with their former teachers, principal and friends.

 

 

We congratulate all who have worked so hard to reach this high school graduation milestone. Your teachers all along the way are so proud of your accomplishments.