The Hammonton Gazette 06/08/16 Edition | Page 4

St. Joseph High School Class of 2016 graduates Wednesday, June 8, 2016 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3 SJHS, from Page 1 New Jersey. “Today, as we come together to celebrate an exciting end to this chapter of our lives, let us look back on our beginning … As the years have come and gone, we have developed many friendships and memories within the halls of this school that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Whether it be that crazy class trip that everyone has something different to say about it, to those late night texts to a friend because you really don’t know what to do for a project and it’s due tomorrow, or the endless number of sporting events that we have both played in and attended. We’ve had our ups, and we’ve had our downs. But I’m proud to say that all of us sitting here have finally made it to what seemed so far away, graduation day. So let us take a moment to appreciate what has gotten us here. Saint Joseph High School is the type of school where we are not just roaming the halls as students, we walk together as a family. We have developed unique relationships with each teacher and faculty St. Joe grads reflect on high school tenures by Franki rudnesky GAZETTE CONTRIBUTING WRITER HAMMONTON—High school graduation is a time for reflection – a time for students to look back on the past four years and countless memories made both in and out of the classroom. Along with this reflection also comes the bittersweet realization that everything will change upon the arrival of the next fall as each student will go his or her separate way onto college or the real world. For the St. Joseph High School Class of 2016 moving on from high school became a reality as their graduation took place on May 31. This momentous occasion had graduates feeling a wide range of DiMeglio Septic, Est. 1975 ~ DEP 03261 ~ Paul DiMeglio 491 S. White Horse Pike • Ancora, NJ • Grease Trap Cleaning • Portable Toilets • Septic Certifications • Jetting Service Designer Inspired... ...Competitively Priced Caro74 • Valina Bridal Bells • Twogether Benchmark C USTOM E NGAGEMENT R INGS & WEDDING BANDS R EPAIRS C OMPLETED ON P REMISES Across from McDonald’s Hammonton • 561-6222 emotions, while also reflecting on their high school experience and looking toward the future. “I’m super excited and lost for words. There are so many emotions going through my mind right now, I’m just happy,” Saint Joseph High School graduate Mariela Diaz said. Diaz, of Egg Harbor Township, said she plans to attend Saint Joseph’s University in the fall and major in marketing. “What I’ll miss the most about high school is seeing my friends every day and having close relationships with the teachers here,” Diaz said. Another graduate feeling mixed emotions was Dylan Amos, of Sewell, who said that he felt both See rEFLECTION, Page 14 Inc. 1 (800) 427-4617 ~ 561-1007 ~ 561-3597 121 S. White Horse Pike member that we can now call a friend,” Poston said. Following Poston’s speech, Principal Lynn Domenico introduced the 2016 Valedictorian, Sydney Shuster. Shuster, who will be attending the University of Delaware next fall, is a member of the National Honor Society and has spent time interning at The Gazette during three of her four John Franchini years at St. Joseph. “I think everyone right now is thinking the same thing - how did it go by so fast? Only four years ago, we entered St. Joseph High School as Freshmen, wide-eyed with anticipation of the coming years that were promised to be ‘the best of our lives.’ Throughout those four years, we made friendships and memories that will never be lost or forgotten. Now, we are embarking on a new journey similar to the one we chose to take four See GrADUATION, Page 10 $20 OFF 545 South White Horse Pike Hammonton • (609) 567-4170 A FULL HEAD OF HIGHLIGHTS does not include blow dry or cut Offer valid now through June 30, 2016 NEW CLIENTS ONLY!