Island school celebrates promoted eighth-graders
Twenty-five students from The Sanibel School were recently recognized at the annual 8th Grade Promotion Ceremonies as they prepare to enter high school and their next chapter in life.
Held on June 6 in the school’s cafetorium, the ceremony opened with National Junior Honor Society President Kaden Block leading the students, faculty and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Next up, students from the school’s Seahorse Chorale performed the national anthem and “Go The Distance.”
Principal Jamie Reid delivered the welcoming.
“We’re just really proud of the kids. They have had experiences like nobody could have predicted,” Assistant Principal Jennifer Lusk said pointing to the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ian. “They had a middle school experience that could have broken them and they triumphed. They are my heroes.”
The first guest speaker was K-2 literacy coach Laurie Sanders. An educator for 41 years, Sanders had served as second-grade teacher for the majority of the eighth-graders being celebrated at the event.
“It was nice that she could be there to cheer on our eighth-graders,” she said.
The second guest speaker was Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson.
All of the city council had taken a break from its monthly meeting to attend the ceremony.
“It was temporarily paused so they could come and participate,” Lusk said. “We’re so grateful they could prioritize our students and their accomplishments.”
After the presentation of certificates, a memory video was played.
The Class of 2023 included Dylan Alber, John Aloia, Jacob Andrews, Kayden Block, Madison Byrne, Jacqueline Chavez-Santana, William Erickson, Olivia Kauffold, Vanessa Kelly, Emma Knight, Gia Lackenby, Finn Lampila, Tinsley Michael, Josselyn Moses, Liam Nuckolls, Chloe Otalvaro, Alastair Parkin, Charles “Wes” Riley, Chase Riley, Kylie Rosteck, Michael Sette, Braxton Siebert, Samantha Wells, Jayden Wolfe and Siena Young.
“One hundred percent were promoted,” she said of the eighth-grade class.
She reported that most of the students will attend Fort Myers High School next year, followed by Cypress Lake High School. One student is headed to the Canterbury School and another is enrolled at Bishop Verot Catholic High School. One student was still deciding between two school programs.
The ceremony ended with closing remarks from Reid.
Lusk noted that the parents set up the event, then tore it down and cleaned up afterward.
“It was really incredible how our parents came together,” she said.
In fact, the school had no cafetorium stage or sound equipment after the hurricane struck. One parent of three students, Matthew Pierce, spent time reconstructing the stage and replacing equipment himself.
“He made sure that our cafeteria had the ability to put on our production for ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ and a working sound system so could have our promotion ceremony back on campus,” Lusk said.
“Our parents are absolutely phenomenal,” she added.
The class was also treated to an off-island promotion party by the school’s Parent Teacher Association and parents. Between the party and ceremony, sponsors included Captiva Cruises, Dream Vacation Rentals, Gulf Coast Orthodontics and The Shack of Sanibel.
For more information about the school, visit https://sbl.leeschools.net/.
The Sanibel School is at 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.