The Gramon School and Glenview Academy, providing individualized and innovative programs to address the special needs of students with behavioral disabilities, held a commencement ceremony on Thursday in Fairfield. The 12th grade graduates of the Gramon School and 8th grade graduates of the Glenview Academy represent students from districts throughout northern New Jersey. Councilman Oscar S. James II of Newark was the keynote speaker for the event.
“I know that many of you have endured struggles in your lives, but through it all, you have succeeded.” said James. “Your hard work and the unique support system within this school have prepared you for the next step in your journey.”
The 12th graduates of the Gramon School are:
• Calvin Davis
• Jarod Frye-Williams (Valedictorian)
• Christopher Garcia
• Tashaun Skinner
• Anthony Spann
The seniors each received a certificate of completion from Gramon and receive official diplomas from their home school districts.
The 8th grade Glenview Academy graduates are:
• David Alvarado
• Alfonso Cruz
• Anthony Draper
• Khalif Fambro
• Daivon Flagler
• Aaron Harrison
• Galaxy Henriques
• Kai Hodge
• Tenaisha Kennedy
• Sterling McPleasant
• Kenneth Mejia
• Ahmad Nestor
• Justin Perez
• Benito Rosario
“These students have dedicated themselves to personal and academic growth,” said David Weeks, Executive Director of the Gramon School. “We are proud to celebrate all of our graduates and their achievements. They have had a positive influence on everyone around them and we wish our graduates continued success in the future.”
Below is a speech presented by educator John Brooks during the 2009 Graduation Cerermony:
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.
Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.
An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.
As you grow, your associates will change.
Some of your friends will not want you to go on.
They will want you to stay where they are.
Friends that don’t help you climb will want you to crawl.
Your friends will either stretch your vision or choke your dream.
Those that don’t increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider this:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people.
Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.
You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.
Don’t follow anyone who’s not going anywhere.
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.
Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."
The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.
Note: Be not mistaken.
This is applicable to family as well as friends.
Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what.
Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.
"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our Friends."
"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude."
