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Westlake High School's Class of 2026 walked across the stage in a graduation ceremony that was everything it should be: joyful, moving, and entirely their own. The celebration took place on the turf, and while the skies tested everyone's patience earlier in the day, Dr. Giarrizzo put it best: there are no flowers without rain.

The Westlake High School Concert Band, directed by Ulysses Torres, opened the ceremony with "Pomp and Circumstance." Lindsay Fox, Student Council Executive Board President, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Westlake High School Blendors/Alumni, directed by Emily Denler, performed the National Anthem.

Throughout the ceremony, Lindsay Fox served as emcee, weaving personal tributes to each speaker into her introductions and setting a tone that was warm, genuine, and deeply felt. She introduced her best friend since age three, Senior Class President Brooke Pfeiffer, with the kind of affection that only comes from a lifetime of friendship. She spoke about Principal Brady as the kind of principal who truly knows his students, a point the seniors made clear to themselves when they showed up on his lawn at five in the morning for their senior prank. She thanked Board of Education President Sara Beaty for her tireless work on behalf of the community and acknowledged Dr. Giarrizzo with gratitude and admiration, noting his enormous impact and his retirement at the end of next year.

Senior Class President Brooke Pfeiffer delivered the opening remarks with confidence and heart. She framed high school as a basketball game, four quarters of growth, challenge, and teamwork. Freshman year, they were rookies learning the fundamentals. Sophomore year, they learned to pass the ball. Junior year brought the full-court press, leaning on each other and making smart decisions under pressure. In their senior year, they weren't just players anymore. They were leaders, playing until the final buzzer. She reminded her classmates that families and teachers were their best fans and coaches, and she closed with a challenge: trust yourself, live without regrets, and step onto the court and make it count.

Principal Daniel Brady acknowledged the morning's weather with gratitude, noting that the community came together to ensure the rain wouldn't stop the celebration. He recognized custodians, the PTA, Chris Cerrato, Susan Pezzuti, and retiring staff members Mandy Goldstone and Kevin O'Connor. He told the graduates he had asked them for feedback before writing his speech, and that their responses were thoughtful, funny, and brutally honest. One student requested he mention how cool Dean Dable is. He honored the request. He described the Class of 2026 as wildly different but deeply connected, energetic, unique, close-knit, and, in their words, slay-tastic. He reminded them that academics matter, but so does balance. Schools are not buildings, he told them. They are what's inside them. He closed with what mattered most: the people who got you here are the ones who made you feel seen, supported, cared for, and capable. "Your character and kindness will define you more than your grades ever will."

Board of Education President Sara Beaty brought a letter to the graduates, built from advice collected from teachers across the district. Among the highlights: stop and smell the roses, your GPA will not help you find your car keys, karma is real, put your cell phone down once in a while, shake hands and say thank you, and send your friends a birthday card. She reminded them that time moves faster as they get older and that the antidote is to stop, be present, and enjoy it. "Westlake will always be your home, even though you're leaving. Congratulations, Class of 2026. The world is waiting for you."

Salutatorian Isabelle Chacko reflected on the distance between her eighth grade graduation speech and this one, and what that gap says about how far they have all come. She spoke about legacy and the way this class has already been shaping who they are, surviving sixth grade paint fumes, COVID, and a rainstorm forty minutes before the ceremony. Her yearbook quote: "Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Math teacher Mrs. Marissa Fata delivered the commencement address with a story: twenty years ago, she sat exactly where the graduates were sitting, earning her own diploma from Westlake High School. She never planned to come back. Plans change. As a calculus teacher, she knows something about continuous change, and her message was clear: change is not something to battle. It is something that empowers you. Ask for help. Reflect and reset. Protect your peace. Take your plans and your dreams with you as you walk across that stage.

Lindsay Fox reintroduced the Blendors/Alumni, who performed before Valedictorian Christina Rodrigues took the podium. Christina brought the class back to September 1, 2022, the day they all walked through the doors together, freshmen trying to figure out how moles could be anything other than something on your arm. She spoke honestly about regret, not about the work, but about balance, and about cramming in as much time with her classmates as she could in these final weeks. She quoted Noah Kahan, honored her mother as her greatest inspiration, and thanked her father for cheering the loudest even when he didn't fully understand her deviance research project. Her grandparents traveled all the way from Portugal. She closed simply and perfectly: "We have outgrown this place. Look how far we have come. We did it."

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo delivered the graduation proclamation and superintendent's address with his annual tradition: a song chosen for the class and a message built around its meaning. This year's song was "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas, released in 2007, a song about letting go of regrets and finding profound meaning in the small, everyday moments of life. Dr. Giarrizzo reminded the graduates that we live in a culture obsessed with destinations, but the true architecture of a life is not built from trophies. It is built from the quiet, unmapped moments we so easily overlook. He asked them to let go of what could have been, to aspire to be like the sea, and to allow this new beginning to wash their shoreline clean. He challenged them to become artists of the everyday: to find joy not in the perfect milestone but in a random morning, a blazing sunset, a moment of real human connection. "Let go of what is behind, protect the small hours, and live so deeply in the ordinary moments that life becomes extraordinary."

Senior Class Advisors Ms. Jennifer Avella and Ms. Debbi DeNoia introduced the graduates, who received their diplomas from Principal Brady and Assistant Principal Richard Sharpe. Assistant Principal Sharpe then officially presented the Westlake High School Class of 2026.

The Westlake High School Concert Band closed the ceremony with a "Beach Boys Medley," arranged by John Moss, and the Class of 2026 walked out into the rest of their lives.

Congratulations, Westlake High School Class of 2026!

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Westlake Middle School’s eighth graders said goodbye to the hallways they’ve called home and hello to high school on a stunning June morning, celebrating the milestone in a Moving Up Ceremony filled with music, reflection, and plenty of well-earned pride.

Students processed in to “Crown Imperial March” by William Walton, performed by ESU Events. Gia Bianchine led the Pledge of Allegiance, and The Meistersingers, conducted and accompanied by Mr. Benjamin Appel, performed the National Anthem. Principal Anthony Mungioli welcomed the crowd and opened the ceremony with gratitude, thanking faculty, staff, the office team, custodians, and partner organizations for their commitment to the Class of 2026. He recognized Assistant Principal Terri Outhouse, who has been with these students since kindergarten, and acknowledged the Board of Education for its leadership and support. He asked students to pause and remember everything their families have done to get them to this moment.

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo brought his opening remarks and a message about wonder. He told students they are standing at an ending and a beginning, a place filled with possibility. He reminded them not to let wonder slip away and offered a metaphor for the road ahead: the next four years are a lot like flying a kite. WMS gave them the frame and structure. Their families gave them the string. But kites belong in the air. He told them to run against the wind, to let themselves take flight, and not to be discouraged when the string gets tangled or the kite crashes. That, he said, is all part of learning to fly. “Dream big and fly high, Class of 2026 and WHS Class of 2030.”

The Westlake Winds performed “Best of the Beatles,” arranged by Jon Ross and conducted by Ms. Erin Sica, followed by student speakers Kieran Fitzpatrick and Crystal Zhang.

Kieran opened with a nod to Charlie Brown, reflecting on the questions that hang over every new chapter: What challenges will we face? Who will our friends be? He spoke honestly about how hard it is to imagine something being over, and about what WMS taught him: that success comes from trying hard, taking risks, and getting involved. He recalled standout memories, including Mr. Mungioli getting slimed, the trip to Washington D.C., and performances of “The Outsiders.” He closed with an invitation: let’s step into the next chapter together. “If we take risks and stay involved, we will not be disappointed.”

Crystal reflected on walking into WMS three years ago with backpacks twice their size, trying to avoid the big, scary eighth graders. She talked about what those three years gave them: time management, balance, social skills, and a growing sense of who they are. She credited teachers and families for pushing them to be their best and reminded her classmates that the voyage ahead is not linear. “Realign your focus to achieve the future you desire.”

The Meistersingers returned for a vocal interlude, performing “Let the River Run” by Carly Simon, arranged by Mac Huff and conducted by Mr. Appel.

Principal Mungioli closed with a direct and heartfelt address. He told the graduates that energy was their class theme, and it showed from day one. That energy evolved into something real: critical thinking in the classroom, leadership on athletic fields and in hallways, and genuine empathy for the people around them. He pushed back on excuses: “Excuses don’t build futures. Hard work does.” When things got tough, he told them, they tried harder. He asked them to take that energy with them to high school. Dr. Giarrizzo and Principal Mungioli, joined by Ms. Outhouse, awarded certificates to the graduates, and Mr. Mungioli officially presented the Class of 2026 to WHS Principal Daniel Brady.

Students walked out to “Beach Boys on Stage,” arranged by J. Moss, officially closing the book on their middle school years.

Congratulations, WMS Class of 2026, and welcome to Westlake High School!

 

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Columbus fifth graders made it official this morning: they are headed to Westlake Middle School, and they marked the moment in a Moving Up Ceremony held outside on a beautiful June day, full of joy, cheers, and celebration.

Students processed in to "Pomp and Circumstance" before the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Peyton Broderick and Elle DiPaolo. Principal Kevin Hanlon welcomed Columbus families, and the celebration was underway.

Principal Hanlon set the tone with warmth and candor. He shared that this was his first year leading Columbus, and that he felt lucky to have this class as his first group of fifth graders. He had reviewed student reflection surveys before the ceremony and found that the memories that rose to the top weren't the big productions — they were field days, the Kona Ice truck, recess, friendships, and everyday moments. He also shared what students said they wished they had done differently: tried harder, made better choices, been kinder. He held that up not as a criticism but as proof of a growth mindset they will carry with them.

"Work hard, be kind, listen to your teachers, and enjoy it," he told them, "because it goes fast." He added a personal note: his own son is the same age and moving up today, so he understood firsthand the pride in the room. It isn't just about the milestone, he said. It's about growth, change, and being ready.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Giarrizzo spoke to the students about the road ahead. He reminded them to hold onto wonder, to stay open-minded as they encounter new subjects, new people, and new challenges. Big accomplishments, he told them, are really just collections of small hours. Every giant leap starts with a single step. He asked them to keep their eyes open, their minds curious, and their hearts kind, and reminded them that showing kindness has the power to change the world. He congratulated them on making it through elementary school and said he is excited to see where they go. Their road ahead: Westlake Middle School in 2029 and Westlake High School in 2033.

Assistant Principal Erica Denman connected her own journey to theirs. She began at Columbus as AP the same year this class started, so they learned the building together — the teachers' names, the hallways, the best water fillers. She acknowledged that starting over as the youngest in a new building can feel nerve-wracking, and she offered her own honest reassurance: she doesn't love making mistakes, but she learns from every one of them. Her hope for the students is that they do things they love, take risks, and aren't afraid to stumble along the way. "You will always have a home at Columbus," she told them.

Fifth grade teachers called each student by name as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates, each one sending them off with a fist bump from Principal Hanlon and a handshake from Dr. Giarrizzo. The class song, "A Million Dreams," rang out a cappella, the students' voices carrying across the outdoor ceremony without a musical track in sight. The DJ kept the energy going throughout, filling the air between moments with the perfect soundtrack. WMS Principal Anthony Mungioli officially accepted the new sixth grade class, and students processed out to "Hall of Fame" by The Script.

Congratulations, Columbus Class of 2026!

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Hawthorne Elementary School’s second graders made it official: they are headed to Columbus Elementary School in the fall, and they celebrated the milestone in style. Twice. Due to inclement weather, two Moving Up ceremonies were held indoors at Columbus, but the change of venue did nothing to dim the energy in the room.

Principal Anthony Carolini welcomed the crowd and reflected on just how far the students had come. He reminded them that they had grown not just physically (taller and with a few fewer teeth) but also socially and academically. He recalled favorite memories spanning all three years: kindergarten field trips and new friendships, an unforgettable first-grade field day, and a second grade packed with legendary moments, from ice cream parties and duck visits during STEM class to Fun Fridays, theme days, the Legoland trip, and students stepping up to lead class jobs and help with morning announcements. He had challenged them in September to be the best in the building, and by his account, they exceeded every expectation.

“Once a Hawthorne Star, always a Hawthorne Star,” he told them. He asked them to stay curious, be brave, make mistakes, and keep the golden rule.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Giarrizzo addressed the students with a message about wonder. He called them “professional wonder hunters,” the kind of people who don’t just see rain but find stories in clouds, who notice ladybugs under leaves, who look at the world with wide-open eyes. He asked them to make three promises as they move forward: look up, lean in, bend low, and reach for new heights. He thanked the teachers and families for helping students find their joy, and reminded the graduates of the road ahead: Columbus through 2029, Westlake Middle School in 2032, and Westlake High School in 2036.

Assistant Principal Erica Denman, who serves in that role at both Hawthorne and Columbus, closed out the ceremonies with an official welcome to the newest Columbus students. As Principal Carolini noted, she is the bridge between the two schools. She congratulated the graduates and asked each class to stand, the official moment they moved up from second to third grade.

Throughout the ceremonies, students performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” together, along with four songs that captured the spirit of the occasion: “On My Way,” “One Drop,” “One Year Older,” and the Hawthorne Elementary School song.

The celebrations continued long after, with families and friends gathering in the gym hallway and outside the school, where graduation decorations set the perfect backdrop for photos and a few last moments together.

 

Dear Wildcats,

It was during the 1993-1994 academic year that I began my career as a special education teacher on Long Island. Wide-eyed, eager, and hopeful to do good things for children, I set out on a journey as an educator that has led me to Mount Pleasant twice. Today, 33 years later, with that same eagerness and hopefulness, it is with mixed and complicated emotions that I write to you to announce my retirement as your Superintendent of Schools at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 academic year, wide-eyed for what lies ahead for both my family and me. The Board of Education will accept my resignation for retirement at its June 10, 2026, meeting.

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to be your Superintendent for six years. Together, we’ve accomplished much for our students, and I am enormously proud of our schools. Our Portrait of a Mount Pleasant Learner drives our work and serves as a unique hallmark of what is good in Mount Pleasant and public education. Of our many accomplishments, among the greatest has been the strength of our relationships, for which I am so grateful and proud. I am thankful to our Board of Education. They are seven outstanding individuals, and it has been nothing short of a dream to serve as their governance partner. They put children first, always, and care deeply for the community, our students, and our staff. We have also assembled a leadership team over the past several years that is second to none, and the continuity of that leadership will carry the District forward with precision and fortitude. Thank you to the teachers, administrators, clerical, custodial, nursing, security, and support staff for all you do to support our student body and families. 

While our staff and your children are everything to me, it is time for me to prepare for the next chapter in my journey. I am looking forward to more time with family and loved ones, experiencing life in ways that only more time can permit. You have treated me like family, and that has always meant so much to me. Mount Pleasant has always been my professional home, and it is true that once you’re a Wildcat, you’re a Wildcat for life. I look forward to closing out this year with strength, supporting a seamless transition to our next Superintendent of Schools, and continuing my work with all of you in the year ahead.

This has truly been an adventure of a lifetime, and I am grateful.

With Wildcat Pride,

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo
Superintendent of Schools