The group may be small, but their impact is not.
Nine students from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School will graduate Sunday, some headed to college, others embarking on adventures abroad. They’ll leave behind a legacy of community service, and carry with them memories of their tight-knit school community.
“This group really represents who we are at the charter school of Martha’s Vineyard,” school director Bob Moore said of the 11th graduating class.
As sophomores, the senior class spearheaded a community service project serving meals to elderly residents of Woodside Village, a tradition that will continue. Community service was often done quietly, Mr. Moore said, but it had “immense, profound impact on some people.”
“I’m proud and pleased with each and every one of them.”
On Thursday afternoon, seven of the almost-graduates came together for lunch at the Polly Hill Arboretum, the senior class small enough to fit around one round table under the trees. The seniors ate salads and sandwiches and chatted with Laura Hall, chairman of the school’s board, and vice-chairman Philippe Jordi, reflecting on school days and adventures to come, summer jobs and favorite memories.
Highlights for seniors were the eighth grade trip to Italy and other “random” field trips like camping and eradicating bittersweet at Felix Neck. They fondly remembered math class and school lunches (yes, really). Post-graduation plans will take them to colleges from Massachusetts to North Carolina, and on adventures ranging from India to the Appalachian Trail.
Friendship and the sense of community were important parts of their experience, most of the students said.
At the charter school, “the community really does matter” and each student plays a role in the school environment, Eli Brown said. He plans to hike part of the Appalachian Trail, and enroll in a six-month music program in New York.
Aedan Greene is headed to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he’ll major in a science field and minor in music. When it comes to leaving the nest, “I’m ready,” he said, though he’ll miss “all my friends I don’t usually see otherwise.”
At the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth next year, Emma Bleiler said she’ll miss “all my friends and all the teachers.”
“At this point I’m done with looking at all your faces,” Coco Brown joked. Her post-school life will start off with a seven-month trip to India in October, where she’ll sightsee and visit friends.
But there’s lots to miss about school, too. “I’m going to miss getting fed every day,” she said. “I’m probably going to miss the people — I’ve gotten used to seeing everybody every day.”
At the same time, “I’ve been waiting for a long time [for graduation],” she said.
Training seals was a high school highlight for Erica Bartlett, who worked at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution through a mentorship. There she cleaned fish tanks and helped rehabilitate turtles, and trained those seals — one learned to recycle, she said, and another could paint.
She will attend the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth to study marine biology and minor in Portuguese.
“I’m really excited,” Anna (Zen) Hughes said of her impending graduation. “I’m going to start a new chapter of my life . . . for me, graduation says my childhood is concluded.”
Zen also worked in Woods Hole, where she will continue to work this summer. Next year, she’ll attend the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institut in Troy, N.Y., where she said she wants to study biomedical engineering.
Zen said she’ll miss the school community. “I’m going to miss the freedom they gave me.”
Jake Meegan will attend the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he wants to continue with his photography while he studies environmental science. He said he was thankful for the school’s opportunities — he noted it was rare for students to play music with their math teachers.
Graduates Meagan McDonough and Gavin Harrer were not at the lunch. Meagan will attend Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C., in the fall, Mr. Moore said. He praised her as a student with an interest in international politics who is involved in community service — she worked with homeless teens in Worcester and started winter coat drives.
Mr. Moore said Gavin is a “delightful young man” with an interest in music and travel. He’s headed to the West Coast right after graduation, Mr. Moore said. “He’s someone who’s going to bring his spirit of creativity to his next community.”
Around the table, the students chatted over sandwiches, sharing memories about math class, where they built kites. There was the ropes course they did on the Cape: “Oh yeah, that was fun,” Coco said.
“So math seems to be a highlight, huh?” Mr. Jordi asked the students.
Wednesday night, each senior was given a copy of the Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You’ll Go! inscribed with notes from their advisors, which were read to graduates in a tear-filled event.
And no matter the places they go, reunions are likely in the future. “I’m going to make one happen,” Emma said. “There’s only nine of us, anyway.”
The charter school graduation will take place Sunday, June 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the school at 424 State Road. All are welcome.
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