Tornado warning? No problem. Crossett Brook’s 8th graders graduate in the gym
June 20, 2026 | By Lisa Scagliotti 
Crossett Brook Middle School principals, teachers and staff, along with family and friends, celebrate the 68 eighth graders in the class of 2026 on Thursday, June 18. Photo by Gordon Miller
A decision to hold Crossett Brook Middle School’s eighth-grade graduation indoors this year proved prudent when a tornado warning was announced across Vermont on Thursday.
The 6 p.m. ceremony was already conveniently planned as an indoor event in the school gym, and the afternoon’s heavy downpours even subsided in time for the class and their families, friends and teachers to enjoy mingling outside once the program ended.
For the annual ceremony, several hundred attendees filled the bleachers. An overflow seating area was set up on the basketball court along with sections for school faculty and the 68 members of the class of 2026.
Crossett Brook Middle School Co-Principal Jen Durren. Photo by Gordon Miller
School Co-Principals Jennifer Durren and Duane Pierson both shared brief remarks with the class and the audience. Durren opened the ceremony, noting that it was a time to celebrate the students’ accomplishments in middle school, while also looking ahead. “[We] look forward to witnessing who you will become,” she said.
Behind and above the podium, a banner hangs on the gym wall declaring the school to be “a curious, caring and connected community.” Take those ideals with you, Durren told the departing students. “Remember to care deeply, nurture your curiosity, and foster deep, positive connections. These ideals will serve you well as you move on to your next path.”
Seventh and eighth graders are on the school’s Prodigy and Titan teams, and a pair of students from each team had a chance to speak. Prodigy students Zarek Vogelsang-Card and Ellie Gifford were first.
Arriving at middle school as a fifth grader, it seemed as if the four years ahead would last forever, Vogelsang-Card recalled. “But now, looking back, they felt like they passed in the blink of an eye.”
Team Prodigy student speakers Ellie Gifford and Zarek Vogelsang-Card. Photo by Gordon Miller
He reflected on highlights in particular from seventh and eighth grades, from tests to field trips and other fun class activities. Looking ahead to high school brings back some familiar feelings. “But now we are nervous and excited, just like when we were about to go to Crossett Brook. In just four short years, we will be done with school forever, and we will be ready for so many new things in our futures – like taxes.”
Gifford reflected on friendships made through middle school and how she hopes those relationships “continue to grow together through the years,” along with new friendships that await in high school. “I hope we never forget the deep sense of camaraderie we have developed over the years.” Acknowledging some sadness that comes with moving on, Gifford said, “I also believe it is important to remember all of the good that is coming in our futures.”
Titan team speakers were Emmy Dubois and Ari Weigand.
Dubois thanked teachers and classmates, recounted some memorable middle school moments and acknowledged the challenge of moving on: “We need to come to terms with change. Change is scary. And sometimes it can be hard to accept it. But the thing is, change is what lets us succeed.”
Weigand reflected on the ups and downs of middle school including “tears, pain and loss” along with good that came from supportive friends and teachers. “It helped me learn that life isn’t always easy or fair, but the hard and unfair parts are essential to growth. They teach us lessons that success and comfort never could.”
Band teacher Samantha Mishkin gives the ceremony’s main address. Photo by Gordon Miller
The graduating class chose Crossett Brook band teacher Samantha Mishkin to be the ceremony’s main speaker. Mishkin reminded the students that she met them at the end of their sixth-grade year when she interviewed to teach at the school. She reminisced about the two years since and the progress she saw the graduating students make in that time. “You’ve become independent, responsible and fiercely confident. You encourage and support each other and show up for each other,” she said.
Mixing the heartfelt with some humor, Mishkin offered her life and band advice to the class: “Keep working hard. Keep being exactly who you are. Take out your AirPods and talk to people face-to-face. Be kind. Be the person who makes sure that other people feel included. Remember that the person you become will always matter far more than the grades you get. And for the band kids—use common sense with your instruments. Clean them out from time to time. Don’t put pencils in your instruments, and don’t stick your hand into a tuba—it’s really gross.”
She closed with a teasing farewell familiar to her band students. “For the last time from the band room—Go away. Goodbye. Skedaddle.”
Crossett Brook Middle School Co-Principal Duane Pierson. Photo by Gordon Miller
Co-Principal Pierson closed the ceremony, acknowledging the busy day getting ready for graduation and the stormy weather. “We did have a tornado warning today. It didn’t happen outside the building, but it happened inside the building,” he said.
Pierson, who has presided over many year-end graduations in his time in the Harwood school district, emphasized the moment’s importance to the students. “This is a rite of passage. This is a big deal. It’s an important time for these young people,” he said.
He shared that the favorite part of his daily routine is the time he spends helping in the cafeteria, checking students through the lunch line. “That moment that I get to connect with each one of you,” he said.
Referring to the sign overhead with the school’s “three C’s” ideals, he continued, saying he hopes the graduates can take time to appreciate similar moments in their lives ahead. “Because it’s those little connections that show that you care and you’re curious about who they are. That’s what life’s all about. It’s the little moments. It’s the small things,” Pierson said. “That’s what makes us who we are as a community.”
The school’s seventh and eighth grade chorus, led by music teacher Molly Dubois, performed two songs for the ceremony, “One Voice” by Ruth Moody, and “The Little Creek” by Matt Carlson. Retiring Crossett Brook staffer Tammy Thompson played guitar on the first song and musician Stefanie Weigand, parent to a graduating eighth grader, accompanied the chorus on piano for the second.
8th grade sendoff
Click the images to open the gallery.
Student awards
During Thursday morning’s graduation practice, Pat Sherman from the American Legion Auxiliary visited the school to announce awards to eighth graders for essays and their participation in band and chorus. In the final school assembly earlier in the week, school awards were announced, recognizing a number of eighth graders as well.
The American Legion Auxiliary Awards and their recipients were: the Chorus Award to Siobhan Murman and Band Award to Sam Phillips. Jacob Rye received the Americanism Award and the Outstanding Student medallion. Rye and Murman each received Citizenship Awards.
School awards and recipients
Scholarly Leader Award to Ari Weigand and Elliana Kulis
Ken Page Leadership Award, in honor of the school’s first principal, to Addison Manley
Tom Drake Unsung Hero Award, in honor of the school’s second principal, to Sam Rost
Harvard Book Prize to Hayden Milia-Sawyer
Colleen Barrett Breakthrough Writer Award, new this year, honoring retiring teacher Colleen Barrett, to Ellie Gifford.
Multiple students were given awards to recognize those who best embodied the school’s ideals.
The Connected Awards went to Lily Brynga, Lila Ray, Izzy Kawatsuji, Maggie Smythe, Ben Austin, Grayson Gendimenico, CiCi Eley, Keaton Viens and Zarek Vogelsang-Card.
The Curious Awards went to Maddy Rutledge, Hazel Deane, Lachlan Smith, June Waringa, Charlotte Rosenthal-Noble, Amaya Skates, JD Cauchon, Addison Manley and Sam Rost.
The Caring Awards went to Rae Rae Poulen, Warren Motley, Corrado Volitis, Annabeth Magnani, George Ogelby, Skye Barrett, Ariana Chenette, Ari Weigand and Siobhan Murman.
Graduation program + class list
