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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Thursday, June 1, Dover-Sherborn High School held its graduation exercises, welcoming the class of 2017 into post-high school life. In a period of uncertain weather, this graduating class was extraordinarily lucky to have sunshine and a cool breeze for their ceremony outside. The seniors made their way into their seats while the Dover-Sherborn Concert Band played “Pomp and Circumstance,” and were then welcomed to the celebration of their accomplishments by Dover Selectman John D. Jeffries. In a bittersweet turn of events, Headmaster John Smith was not able to attend graduation, since his own child was graduating at the same time.
“This is the class that I came in with,” Smith wrote via email before the ceremony. “I’ve been here four years, and as I first began here as headmaster, they were freshman when I came here in the fall of 2013.”
Dover-Sherborn is unique in that not only do the class officers speak, but students can apply to speak at graduation, no matter their position. “We’ve got three student speakers picked out,” Smith said. These speakers were Samuel Morris Hartley, Dana Kot Rice, and Caroline Dwyer Whitaker. “These are students who submit a speech to a committee and the committee reviews it and chooses people who will speak at graduation. It’s a chance for kids who aren’t necessarily the class president to provide a departing words to their class.”
Diplomas were given out by Clare Graham, Chair of the Regional School Committee, Dana B. White, Secretary of the committee, and Michael C. Lee, a member. “This is really a close-knit group. They’re a really talented academic and athletic group, as well as drama,” Smith added. “In relation to our various athletics and our drama program, there’s a lot of contributors who will be moving on to college next. This really is a solid core group of student athletes and musicians and members of the drama department that I think really have taken the lead. They stepped in as freshmen and sophomores and have been contributing since then. It is certainly a group that we’re going to miss.”
The Class of 2017 will go on to do great things, and should be proud of all of their accomplishments.
