Image provided by Courtney Budz.
Moments before they graduated, Sharon High seniors waxed nostalgic over the former school building that they had attended as freshmen.
The old Sharon High School was demolished in the summer of 2022. These graduates are the last class to have known it.
At commencement, seniors spoke of their love for the old school, whose classrooms and hallways, albeit mice-infested, witnessed decades of shaping future alumni. Student speaker Rishab Kini remembered the time “the water pipe broke and school was cancelled”; Class President Rohith Raghavan remembered “how the Roman numeral III strategy was the only way to not get lost as clueless freshmen.”
When moving to the new school building at the start of their sophomore year, members of the Class of 2025 already knew they shared a particular responsibility to carry some traditions forward.
“We were the last class to grow in a building that stood firm as our town changed over the decades, a building that profoundly shaped the residents and character of Sharon,” Rohith said (to read his full remarks, click here). “As the old building was torn down, we were entrusted with the duty of ensuring that the principles and values it stood for stayed strong.”
One of those values is for the seniors to express their thanks to the SHS community, and to present a class gift to the school at their graduation ceremony.
To mark their love of the days that they had shared in the previous building, Class Officers unveiled a portrait of the old school, painted by Ada Van Dyke, whom they affectionately dubbed “our talented class Picasso.” The entire graduating class signed the back of Ada’s canvas, and, soon, the old school portrait will be displayed in the new Sharon High building. (The entirety of the Officers’ graduation speech may be read here.)
The Class Officers unveil the class gift, a portrait of the old building, painted by Ada Van Dyke. Image from Sharon TV.
The graduates also expressed gratitude to their families as well as to Sharon Public Schools staff, including Dean of Academic Affairs Robert Pomer. He served as this year’s faculty speaker at commencement.
Pomer, who is leaving Sharon for the Chelsea Public Schools, received a standing ovation from the seniors and a stuffed goat with a Class of ’25 T-shirt. The goat signifies that the students think of him as “greatest of all time.” He has served Sharon students for 15 years.
Recognizing the Greatest of All Time: Robert Pomer, Dean of Academic Affairs. Image from Sharon TV.
“Mr. Pomer, you were the one stable force during years of leadership changes and instability — organizing transcripts, class schedules, report cards, and AP exams,” said Lauren McLoughlin, class treasurer. “Your behind-the-scenes work was an integral part of our high school experience. You will be missed.”