Small in size, large in heart-Su Valley celebrates graduation

On Friday, May 19, the Su Valley graduating class of 2023 donned royal blue and gold for their graduation ceremony.

While the number of seniors graduating may be much smaller than the bigger schools in the Borough, with 20 students receiving their diplomas, the significance of the moment was just important as much of the community came out to celebrate this milestone.

The applause just as loud, the joy, the bittersweet emotions that mark the milestone, just as poignant.

“As you take your next steps, know that we are all so proud of you,” Principal Lisa Shelby told the graduates.

“As I grappled with what to say to you, I kept coming back to these words-faith, curiosity, perseverance, and kindness.”

She spoke about everything graduating class endured during their tenure-wildfires, earthquakes, wind events, and the pandemic-how these events could leave students wondering if this was their new normal. She told the seniors to focus on the world that is waiting for them to take their next steps.

“As you head out into this wide world, doing this adulating thing, there will be ups and downs, unwelcome surprises, and moments of pure joy, all of this will be your new normal.”

Sisters Emma and Bethany Kehoe served as Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively. And as they took the podium together, they shared a message of movement and concentration

“Although we all come from different backgrounds and communities, we, the class of 2023, have come together,” said Emma, who thanked the teachers, coaches, staff, and others who acted as role models and inspired them throughout their years of learning. “We are all so grateful.”

“The class of 2023 is a whole lot of things. We have a little bit of everything,” said Bethany before the sisters lead their fellow graduates in a song about osmosis.

“Osmosis is the process of diffusion from a higher concentration to a lower form,” Bethany said.

“The class of 2023 is a mixture of different concentrations, a wild mixture, and a molecular frenzy. A unique mixture of incredible individuals.”