The Pacific School ended this challenging year of schooling with two in-person celebrations to recognize the promotion of three 8th graders and the graduation of five Seniors. Family, friends, classmates and school staff gathered together at the Point Arena Park on Thursday, June 10 to honor 8th grade students Kadynce Swartz, Addison Tait and Elijah Garcia. All three students shared speeches with their reflections on middle school and enjoyed cupcakes, sunshine and music to mark their passage from middle school to high school.
8th Graders and Teachers: Angela Lang (Art
Teacher), Kadynce Swartz, Dana Beer (English Teacher), Isabel Kuniholm (Math
& Science Teacher), Elijah Garcia, Addison Tait.
The next day, Friday, June 11, family and friends came out to the Point Arena Lighthouse to celebrate the graduating Seniors—Keaton Beattie, Levi Teal Roach, Aiyana Robinson, Flavio Smith-Ray and Max Mirassou. This was the 2nd year of gathering at the Lighthouse to recognize the Pacific School graduates. Last year’s graduation was a drive-through with decorated cars parading past the line of Seniors. This year’s celebration was the same venue but was able to be in-person, complete with all the makings of a graduation ceremony from the speeches to the tassel-turning to the tears.
Graduating Seniors: Flavio Smith-Ray, Levi Teal Roach, Aiyana
Robinson, Keaton Beattie.
The Class of 2021 persevered through the global pandemic and remains hopeful for the future with their plans and dreams. Aiyana Robinson plans study animal science at Mendocino College with the aim of becoming a game warden. Levi Teal Roach is heading to the College of the Siskiyous to study welding and firefighting. Flavio Smith-Ray is ready to start working and enjoying the outdoors. Keaton Beattie hopes to pursue hands-on work that allows him to build and create. Max Mirassou looks forward to traveling and exploring the world beyond high school.