WEST ORANGE, NJ - 248 eighth grade students graduated from Roosevelt Middle School on June 21 in Suriano Stadium, located on the campus of West Orange High School.

Jazz band musicians performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" under the direction of Band teacher Roger Bryson and Select Chorus students performed "Breaking Free," led by Chorus teacher Colleen Martin.

Principal Lionel Hush addressed students and family: "And for these young (almost) adults, all these normal middle school challenges were compounded by not-so-normal happenings. A Global pandemic, shifts between virtual and in-person learning, masks and vaccines, close contacts and quarantines, canceled events and seasons. The last time these children had a full school year in a building, they were in elementary school in the fifth grade. This certainly made their journeys more difficult in ways we couldn’t anticipate."

He continued by saying, "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

As adults, we recognize just how true those very words are. These are lessons we try to teach our children in hopes that they will stand strong through all challenges.  These children have, in fact, stood through the challenges and have grown in ways we could be and should be proud of."

Students were recognized for athletic excellence during their time at RMS.

This year's special awards were given to:

MAYOR’S CITIZEN PRIDE AWARD
Violet Kohlenstein
Rhianna Giuliano

JACK RAMSAY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR ART
Xen Kittur
Lyric Dorcely

BETTY LOU HARDY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR CREATIVE WRITING
Madeleine Beetar
Kayla Burrowes

ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE
Daniel Beazer
Juliana Harris

CAROL SADLER MEMORIAL KINDNESS OF HEART AWARD
Gwen Chapman
Mel Ipinze

STUDENT TO WATCH AWARD
David Milstein
Olivia Raines

TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE RMS GRADUATION, GO HERE.

TO SEE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS OF GRADUATES, GO HERE.