Students, faculty and administration joined together for the final time as a school community for the 2015-2016 school year on June 1 in a joyous All-School Closing Ceremony to celebrate the success of the year, the love of community and the careers of dedicated faculty and staff who were reaching important milestones at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.

Head of School William Moseley said, “As we gather together this one last time, I wish you all the best for the coming summer. Today marks the final time that St. Margaret’s Episcopal School as we currently know it will gather together.

“Next year, the Class of 2017 will occupy the places of honor as the leaders of the school. The Class of 2023 will move from Lower School to the Middle School, the Class of 2020 will move from the Middle School to the Upper School, and the Class of 2031 will enroll in our Preschool. And finally, on Saturday afternoon, June 4, we will honor and bid farewell to the Class of 2016.”

Mr. Moseley recognized that this was the last time the Class of 2016 would gather as St. Margaret’s students, and he asked the graduates to stand and be recognized with an ovation by the entire school.

He continued, “What a great year this has been. So many of you have brought honor to the school through your talent, dedication and hard work in many arenas. I’m enormously proud of the school we are today and I am deeply grateful to all of you for the many gifts you have given to our school community.”

Preschool Director Ingrid Andrews, who will retire at the close of the year, was honored for her 35 years of service to St. Margaret’s. Mrs. Andrews was granted emeritus status by Mr. Moseley, the highest honor bestowed on a member of the faculty or administration. Mr. Moseley also announced the naming of the preschool Outdoor Classroom as the Early Childhood Education Center Ingrid Andrews Outdoor Classroom. Visual arts teacher Barbara Nelson, whose career at St. Margaret’s spans 31 years, also received emeritus status and was honored by Mr. Moseley with the naming of the schoolwide art show as the Barbara Nelson K-12 Selected Works Exhibition. Both longtime faculty members received rousing standing ovations and cheers from all in attendance.

“This year we are pleased to honor two members of our faculty who have given lengthy and meritorious service to St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. They have given much of their lives in outstanding service to St. Margaret’s and our students. They are a part of a class of founding faculty whose legacy will live on here forever. We honor and hold the highest esteem for their important work and will always remember whose shoulders we stand upon,” said Mr. Moseley of the recognition bestowed on Mmes. Andrews and Nelson.

See below for a photo gallery of Closing Ceremony.

The David G. Boyle Lifetime Service Award was awarded in honor of Mr. David Boyle who faithfully served St. Margaret’s Episcopal School from 1980-2012 to a lifetime member of the graduating class whose service and dedication to the school best reflects David’s extraordinary contributions. The award is given annually at the All-School Closing Ceremony to a graduating senior who has attended St. Margaret’s since Preschool and who has consistently demonstrated a cheerful and ready willingness to make St. Margaret’s a better place. Candidates for the award are nominated by the division principals and selected by the Head of School. Mr. David Boyle joined Mr. Moseley in presenting the David G. Boyle Award to Ayda Rashtchi.

Another heartfelt moment in the annual ceremony occurs when students and fellow colleagues applaud and cheer for current faculty and staff members as they are recognized for reaching years-of-service milestones in their careers at St. Margaret’s.

Congratulations to faculty and staff listed below for achieving St. Margaret’s anniversaries.

Retiring
Ingrid Andrews, Director of ECDC and Wee Tartan Center (35 years)
Barbara Nelson, Upper School Visual Arts Teacher and Yearbook Advisor (31 years)

25 Year Anniversary
Jeannine Clarke – Middle School Principal

20 Year Anniversary
Melissa Norwood – Business Operations Accounts Receivable Specialist

15 Year Anniversary
Todd Clarke – Lower School 5th Grade Teacher
Claire Frahm – Executive Administrative Assistant to the Head of School
Lore Fredette – Preschool Teacher
Shelley Harmon – Preschool Motor Development Specialist
Bryan Harney – Web Technology Services Manager
Holly Mehling – LS & MS Dance Teacher & Dance Conservatory Coordinator

10 Year Anniversary
Colleen Beshk – Lower School Kindergarten Teacher
Ryan Dahlem – Upper School Assistant Principal
P.J. Elliott – Substitute Coordinator & Summer School Administrative Coordinator
Lori Fava – Middle School Athletic Coordinator, PE Teacher and Coach
William Feige – Preschool & Lower School Playground Attendant
Jeni Johnson – Middle School English Teacher & Grade 8 Girls Dean
Darla Magaña - Director of Library Services
Gene Wie – Orchestra Director and US Computer Science Teacher
Stephanie Windes – MS Math Teacher

Five Year Anniversary
Casey Comeau – Admission Assistant for External Affairs
Bryan Dauterive - Arts Technical Director/Resident Designer
Vanessa D’Amour – Lower School Second Grade Teacher
Noreen Filippi – Advancement Receptionist/Administrative Secretary
Andrew Hammond – Upper School Math Teacher
Joseph Hunn – Security Guard
Tony Jordan – Upper School Principal
James Livingston – Church Chaplain; US Religion and Philosophy Teacher
Isabela Valle – Preschool Teacher
Amber Warren – Wee Tartans Teaching Assistant