Dartmouth Middle Schoolers become high schoolers
Adriana Alfonso, Brooke Arruida, Raquel Estrella and Kaeleen Carter. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Marc Hayes gives Peter Rossi the Golden Apple. 
Bentlee Marcian and his family. 
A student receives her diploma. 
Emma Delgado with her family. 
A student reveives his diploma. 
Nadia Gendron with her family. 
The gym was filled with flowers for the graduates. 
The crowd overspilled from the bleachers to the sides of the court. 
A student receives her diploma. 
Rachel Lassey cheers for the graduates. 
John Nunes addresses the graduates. 
Chris Markey spoke to the graduates about kindness. 
Anderson DeCruz receives the Karen Marchand Award. 
Marc Hayes presenting the Principal's R.A.R.E. Award.
Peter Rossi welcomes the families and graduates.
Adriana Alfonso, Brooke Arruida, Raquel Estrella and Kaeleen Carter. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Marc Hayes gives Peter Rossi the Golden Apple.
Bentlee Marcian and his family.
A student receives her diploma.
Emma Delgado with her family.
A student reveives his diploma.
Nadia Gendron with her family.
The gym was filled with flowers for the graduates.
The crowd overspilled from the bleachers to the sides of the court.
A student receives her diploma.
Rachel Lassey cheers for the graduates.
John Nunes addresses the graduates.
Chris Markey spoke to the graduates about kindness.
Anderson DeCruz receives the Karen Marchand Award.
Marc Hayes presenting the Principal's R.A.R.E. Award.
Peter Rossi welcomes the families and graduates.
Over 272 students became high schoolers after graduating from Dartmouth Middle School on Thursday, June 18.
“You allow us as a staff to build relationships with you, which benefitted all of us,” said teacher Rachel Lassey. “We learned a lot of lessons together … and I hope you will never forget them.”
Hundreds of guests walked into the auditorium atDartmouth High School to live music. Originally scheduled to be held at Memorial Stadium as usual, the location was changed due to a potential storm.
The ceremony opened with three graduates performing the National Anthem; Giuliana Gioni, Hudson Igisomar and Julian Lazaro.
After Dartmouth Middle School Principal Peter Rossi thanked the staff, school board and parents, 112 awards were presented to the students.
The Police Athletic League Award is given to students who show “outstanding citizenship.” This was presented by Officer David Tavares to 12 students.
Rossi presented The Dartmouth Middle School Teacher’s Award for their academics and school service to 12 students.
The Principal’s “R.A.R.E.” Award is for respect, accountability, responsibility and esteem. This was presented by Associate Principal Marc Hayes, who will be principal in the 2026-27 school year as Rossi is retiring. This was given to 24 students.
The Mildred D. Berkowitz Award is in memory of an English teacher who passed. Her daughter set up an endowment, which goes toward the students who win this award. English teacher Michael McLean presented this to 13 students.
Representative Chris Markey presented the Presidential Academic Award, for students who earned a final average of 90% or above. Fifty-three students received this award.
The final award is in memory of Karen Marchand, and was given to a student who lives with the same care, perseverance and commitment that she did. They described student Anderson DeCruz as kind, polite and having a caring attitude.
Markey spoke to the students, asking that they think of a moment where they were kind in the past three years.
“Do something everyday that’s kind to somebody else,” said Markey, “Because when you do, you raise the standard and you start to teach lessons to all the other people around.”
School Committee member John Nunes recommended that the students get involved in high school; join a club, athletics, theater or the arts.
Lassey exclaimed that she already misses the students, as they were a special class who were kind, caring and accepting.
She asked that they remember three things: to find their best friends and value them, to do and say the hard things that make them nervous and to keep being true to themselves and know their worth.
“Shine bright, dream big, continue to be kind and please, please keep building relationships,” she said, “Because every life that you touch should consider themselves loved.”
The event ended with Hayes awarding Rossi a golden apple award as thanks for his years of service.
