Blind Brook Middle School Eighth Graders have an appetite for more

For anyone in attendance at the Blind Brook Middle School Moving Up Ceremony on June 24, it would not be surprising if they left the special event feeling hungry.

In her address, Kylee Zhang described how she felt her time at the middle school was like a meal. Sixth grade, she said was the appetizer, seventh grade the meal and their final year was dessert.

The appetizer left them curious, the main course which provided them with important knowledge for which they could always come back to you and helped them grow. And finally, the dessert course, was like a delicious tiramisu. Students were finding their rhythm and a sweet end to their time in middle school.

“The courses of your middle school years shaped who we are today,” Kylee said. “Let’s take our curiosity along with us and be ready for the next meal.”

Principal Seth Horowitz admitted that Kylee’s message reminded him that he has a love/hate relationship with tiramisu. It is something, he said, he has to eat slowly, which he found provides an important lesson.

“I’ve learned in life you have to do things slowly and deliberately. As you go on to high school, you are going to face challenges. I encourage you to take it slowly and deliberately,” Mr. Horowitz said.

Whatever interest or meal you are having, Superintendent Colin Byrne suggested that it might taste even better with music.

Music, he shared, has always been important to him. In 1981, while he was in eight grade, the one song that stood out for him was “Under Pressure,” by David Bowie and Queen.

While at first it might not seem like an inspiring song, Dr. Byrne said he sees it differently. One line in particular comes to mind: 

“Turned away from it all like a blind man/sat on a fence but it don’t work.”

“The stress will always be there,” Dr. Byrne said. “You have done a great job in meeting stressful situations head on throughout your school career. You will have to bravely continue to confront the stress and anxiety that you will face in high school.”

However, another line from the song indicates how it can be managed: “why can’t we give ourselves one more chance/why can’t we give love one more chance?”

“It is the love and companionship that we share with others that help us overcome the hardships in life,” continued Dr. Byrne. “Throughout your time those who loved and cared about you have been there to see you through the tough times. Your family and friends as well as the faculty and staff at Blind Brook helped you manage the difficulties in the first nine years of school. It will be even more important to lean on these relationships to navigate the pressures of high school.”

Students received their certificates amongst cheers from family and friends before being formally welcomed to Blind Brook High School by Principal Mark Greenwald.

Amiya K. offered a reflection of the class during their time at BBMS. 

“As naïve 11-year-olds we thought we were ready for anything,” she said. “Boy, were we wrong.”

As they progressed classes become harder, expectations higher and everything seemed more serious.

“We’re going to be OK. We still have high school, college and the rest of our lives ahead of us. This is just one stop on our journey,” Amiya told her classmates.

BBMS Principal Seth Horowitz closed the ceremony by acknowledging all those who supported the students, family and the BBMS faculty and staff, sharing a round of applause in acknowledgement. 

“We want you to know that we are here for you if you ever need us,” he assured the students.