In a class so small everyone is on the same group text, seniors at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School said they’ve formed deep bonds.

“I really like our class,” said Claudia Motta. She will begin a pre-med program next year at Emmanuel College in Boston. “We’re like a big family.”

Graduation ceremonies for the 18th graduating class will take place Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the charter school campus in West Tisbury.

Charter school director Bob Moore said the qualities of initiative, leadership, curiosity, and creativity mark this class of 11 students.

“Those are key qualities to being successful in changing the world of the 21st century,” Mr. Moore said. “They are movers and shakers in that crowd.”

“They’ve come of age at a turbulent time, and their response has been amazing,” said science teacher Jane Paquet.

The class is known for its dedication to activism. Many seniors travelled to Washington D.C. last year for the Women’s March. Others made the trip to New York for the People’s Climate March. Most recently, they travelled to Washington D.C. for the March on Washington to protest gun violence in schools. Keith Chatinover organized the trip, which included more than 100 students, teachers, and parents from the charter school and the regional high school.

Students enjoyed traditional senior lunch at Owen Park. — Mark Alan Lovewell

Keith said he is proud of how far his class has come.

“Everyone has individual hurdles and has cleared them,” he said. “I love my class because they’ve had hardships in different ways, but they’ve persevered.”

Keith will begin college at Middlebury College next winter. Until then, he will work for state representative Dylan Fernandes.

The school encourages seniors to dedicate themselves to long-term projects on local issues. One such project looked at the effects of sea level rise on the town of Edgartown; another focused on waste management at the hospital. Ms. Paquet said this year’s seniors have also taken a leadership role with the school’s nascent composting program.

Last winter, three seniors went on the charter school trip to Cuba, traveling across the country together.

“It’s totally different there,” said Claudia. “I’ve never felt so safe.”

“We learned a lot about agriculture and how they’re handling environmental changes,” added Marshall Davidson.

Marshall spent the year developing a photography portfolio, saving up and investing in a professional camera and new lenses. He will continue to study photography next year at the New England School of Photography.

Marshall is one of four graduating seniors who plan to continue studies in visual arts, according to art teacher Ken Vincent.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of really talented kids,” he said. “The charter school tends to produce artists.”

Sarah Smith teaches English, and said she has known some of the seniors for years.

“That’s the beauty of the charter school,” she said. “You get to see them grow up. I feel lucky to be a part of that.”

The school starts in kindergarten and goes all the way through 12th grade, meaning seniors are looked up to by all.

“I’ll miss going around seeing little kids and high-fiving them, simple things like that,” Claudia said.

The graduation season at the school is known for being very personal, marked by thoughtful rituals. At a potluck Wednesday evening, seniors were each given a copy of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Board president Marc Favreau hosted a picnic for the class in the Owen Park gazebo on Thursday afternoon. At graduation on Sunday, each senior will receive a gift from a group of younger students and a personalized award.

After that, they’re sure to keep in touch.

“They’ve really come together,” said Ms. Smith. “They really care about each other.”