It’s June 6, 2025. Decorated with red caps and multi-colored tassels, the class of 2025 has reached the end of their four-year high school journey. Pomp and Circumstance floats through the balmy air, the music following the graduates on their diverging paths.
Graduation has always been a day full of elation for these students — a transition into adulthood. The first graduation at the high school, which was originally called Needham High School, West Division, was held in 1869 with a total of seven graduates. This year, 337 students will walk across the stage.
Historically, the graduation has featured a myriad of rituals, from the acknowledgment of valedictorian to the awarding of the Senior Cup, an award given to two seniors selected by teachers and students who embody the high school’s four core values: academic excellence, cooperative and caring relationships, respect for human differences, and commitment to community.
“In recent years, we’ve announced the Teacher of the Year,” said Mr. Andrew Kelton, an assistant principal. “We used to do Teacher of the Year during the senior awards ceremony, but we thought that it would be better to have it at graduation where the entire senior class was there. Another tradition is that the student body gets to select the graduation speaker for the keynote speaker, usually a teacher.”
This year, the keynote speaker is Mr. David Charlesworth, an English teacher at the high school.
“[Some considerations include] having a message that I think is timely and important to chiefly the young people that I’ll be addressing, but to a wider audience too, and also practicing what I preach in class,” said Charlesworth.
Other speakers include class officers, for whom graduation traditions involve speech-writing and reading the names of the new graduates, initiating their fellow classmates into a new era. This year, Dr. Jamie Chisum, principal of the high school, will not attend because his son’s graduation is on the same day, giving the class officers some more responsibilities.
“It’s going to look a little different this year. What we’re trying to do is empower the class officers more, give them a bigger role,” said Kelton. “Some of the things that Dr Chisum would do, we’re hoping that our class officers will do in terms of announcements and speeches and things of that nature. So it’ll look a little different with respect to that.”
For this year’s graduation, class officers will provide a ceremonial send-off and final guidance with words of wisdom to their class.
“For me, [graduation traditions] do [carry weight] because I’ve only been a class officer for two years. It means a lot that I get to be able to represent this entire grade, especially with giving the welcome speech,” said Class Officer Emily Hinderliter ’25. “It feels really nice that I get to be up there and say meaningful words to the whole class as they close this chapter in their life.”
The initial planning for graduation begins in the fall, when the high school reaches out to different organizations who are responsible for the sound, robes, and chairs.
“I think just the fact that there are these traditions — the stoles, the hats, the tassels, and the robes, just the fact that we have these rituals, I think, is an indication that the graduates and all graduates are part of some kind of larger narrative,” said Charlesworth.
Afterward, graduation turns from speeches by venerated teachers and classmates into an exciting night: the All-night Party. This is planned and managed by a committee of parents, runs until 4:00 AM with a new surprise theme each year.
“I think the most impactful part of the All-night party has to be the company you share it with. The activities and theme are all nice, but all of it is made better by the people,” said Tommy Trenk, graduate of the high school. “It’s definitely a cool moment; there’s a sort of class unity. Everyone you’ve been working with for the last four years has come to celebrate the results of their efforts.”
As the curtain falls on this act of their life, graduation gives students time to think back to fond memories of their school years, but also look forward to life beyond.
“It’s the twelve year long culmination of the work that we do,” said Charlesworth. “Not just the work that I myself do, but the work that we all collectively do together. So [graduation] is a really nice ceremony.”
Celebrating the fruits of their hard work over the last few years, these graduates cherish their last few moments together at graduation.
“We’re coming to the end, and it’s really getting real that it’s almost over. I think there’s a lot of excitement for what’s to come, but also a lot of reminiscing and bittersweetness,” said Hinderliter. “There’s a little bit of sadness as well, thinking about all of the things that each individual has gone through in high school, the friends they’ve made, and the new things they’ve tried.”
As the last few caps are picked up from the ground and the chatter of students dissipates, graduation comes to a close.
Hinderliter said, “every morning when I wake up, I just think about how it’s coming to an end soon and how I really want to be able to live in the moment.”
