On Friday night, June 16, the New England Laborers’ Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy celebrated the graduation of its senior class. As a public charter high school now in its 15th year in existence, the graduates come from all over the state because of the school’s unique educational programming which consists of a construction careers pathway, a World of Work pathway, and a college preparation pathway. This year’s class consisted of 13 girls and 12 boys, ten hailing from Cranston, six from Johnston, one from Burrillville, six from Warwick, one from Providence, and one from Pawtucket.

‘Stay safe, stay healthy, stay inspired’

Chairman of the Board and school committee member Michael Traficante welcomed guests to the graduation event and he thanked the family members of the graduates for entrusting the school with their child’s education.

“We hope that you will be proud, we hope that you are totally satisfied, and that you are gratified with that critical decision, and we hope that you are proud and satisfied with the end product, your graduate of 2017,” he said.

He then welcomed the graduates into the auditorium at Hope Highlands Middle School, and the ceremonies officially began.

The Cranston East JROTC Color Guard posted the colors and Cranston West’s Carrie Minassian sang the National Anthem.

Traficanted addressed the graduates, praising their excellent achievements, but reminding them that it as their excellence in character that was of utmost importance as they move forward throughout their lives. He passed along wishes from the school community for the graduates.

“Therefore, what the entire charter community wishes for you, we hope and we wish throughout your life that are honest enough to admit your shortcomings, that you are stature enough to tower above deceit and bigotry, and that you have strength enough to treasure love, and that you have compassion enough to understand people’s frailties, that you have loyalty and conviction enough to stand by what is right and just and fair, and that you have humanity enough to be thoughtful and helpful to your fellow man,” he said. “What we truly wish for you, lastly, is that you’ll always have a mind full of rich thoughts, a heart full of rich emotions, and a lifestyle comprised of things you love to do each and every day of your life. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay inspired to be lifelong learners, be the best you can possibly be.”

Dennis Curran, Executive Director now in his sixth year, and 45th year as an educator, gave his introductory remarks, welcoming the graduates and their guests to the event. He asked the students to think of the evening not as the beginning of the end, but as the end of the beginning.

“Four years end tonight, and I know for many of you sitting here, it’s been a long four years, but it really hasn’t been and I want you to think of tonight not as the beginning of the end, but as the end of the beginning,” he said. “Tonight starts you on a road to your future endeavors, many of which you have thought about for a long time, some of which will surprise you as they come along, but we feel as your instructors at the charter school that you are well prepared for whatever comes your way.”

‘Unique high school experience’

He noted that the 25 students each had a different path ahead. Nine would be attending CCRI, and would be able to take advantage of the upcoming college benefits legislation. Five would be heading to higher education, either at a trade school or at a four-year school. Three would be pursuing further employment, five would be going to the construction apprenticeship program in Pomfret, Connecticut, two were taking a gap year, and one was joining the military.

“Certainly, their success and their reason for graduating tonight is owing in large part, to you, their families, who have worked hard to make sure that they stayed on track for the four years and met the standards to achieve a high school diploma,” he said. “In addition to the hard work that you did as families, we also have a hardworking staff at the school that has worked diligently over the four years to to prepare them. “

He then asked the staff to stand and be recognized before he moved on to recognize the top scholar, Alexandra F. Palmisano. He commended Palmisano for having a 3.5 GPA, making the honor roll every quarter and for participating in the CCRI Running Start program, completing her senior year at CCRI’s Knight Campus. He described her many attributes and endeavors over the past four years.

“She has been an active member of our student council, she works very hard in the community, going well beyond the 20 hours of community service required for our high school diploma and spends many hours as a peer mentor and in youth fellowship at her church,” he said. “She’s taught summer school over the past few years and has performed over 150 hours of community service hours, yet she still finds time to hold two jobs, one at Roger Williams Park Zoo, and the other at Chik Fil A, you might see her there when you go. She has been accepted at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Illinois where she will be studying youth and family ministry there.”

He also noted that only ten of the graduates were there as freshmen, with the rest coming in over the years as they heard about the unique programs offered at NEL/CPS and applied later on in their high school careers.

“That’s something we’re very proud of, that we pick up many students that are looking for a different education, one that a charter school like ours can offer and do very well with,” he said. “I believe we are probably the only high school in the country that offers the dual program of Heavy and Highway Construction and the Laborers Construction Apprenticeship program and also our World of Work program and this high school class is very emblematic of this type of education.”

Curran next introduced Christopher Sabitoni, son of one of the school’s original founders, who was there, speaking in his father’s place. He congratulated the students and had them give a round of applause to their families for all of their continued support. Sabitoni then spoke to the students about the age of technology in which they live, and he stated that the school was created with a forward-thinking mindset, with the philosophy of having the students be ready for today’s technological age, different than other schools at the time. He spoke about the vision that the founders, including his father, had for the school 15 years ago.

“They wanted a school that would help students create a foundation for lifelong learning, develop goals and plan for their future, explore career options in a safe and secure environment, and be aware of the many opportunities that are available and accessible upon graduating,” he said. “Graduates, the fact that you worked and explored careers in the world of work program with Ms. Copolla will definitely give you a real head start on your future plans, and for those of you in our construction craft laborers program, you are already heads and shoulders above the average apprentice starting out in the field. Union contractors have expressed the desire to see more young charter school graduates work for them, graduates who have the ability to become supervisors and foremen, leading their projects into the next decade. Those of you who took other pathways at our charter school are also well on your way to success and we know that many of you will go on to college, technology schools, the military, apprenticeships and other careers of your choice, and that is the real story of this school. You had a unique high school experience and you are better prepared because of it. ”

‘It’s all up to you’

Mayor Allan Fung followed Sabitoni and echoed his sentiments about the type of preparation that the students at NEL/CPS have gained, which will serve them well in the future. He noted that so many of the students’ skills are crucial to many of the city’s projects, such as the construction of buildings and parks and other similar projects.

“You are Cranston at its best and you’ve been prepared for the next steps in life. Many of you are starting jobs, going to college, or taking a break to find yourself, but no matter what you do and where you go, each one of you have been prepared for any challenge that life will throw at you by the people up on stage as well as those people behind you, your parents, family and friends,” Fung said.

He reminded the students to always believe in themselves and to know that they will be defined by their actions. He encouraged the students to make a difference in the acts throughout their everyday lives and he told them a story about a difference he was able to make in the life of a woman he met, not through his job as mayor, but as someone who listened to her story and her concerns for an elderly family member, and by sharing his own personal experiences with her from his own life.

“For me, that one interaction is what I look forward to every day, making a difference in someone else’s life,” he said. “That’s the power we each have. As former South African leader Desmond Tutu once said, ‘Do your little bit of good where you are, it’s those little bits of good put together that will overwhelm the world.’ Continue to work hard for all the moments in your life and to make a difference in someone else’s life every day.”

Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse was the final speaker prior to the students receiving their diplomas. She noted that as both a teacher and administrator, and as a parent, she was aware of the significance of the day as well as the mixed emotions that go along with it for parents and family members. She reminded the 2017 graduates of the power that they now had.

“As you walk off this stage today, diploma in hand, realize the power you have over your destiny. I am sure many adults sitting her today wish they could go back in time to this moment in their lives, or a similar moment when their destiny was their own,” she said. “You are living in the most exciting time of your lives. It is you who can decide which profession you want to explore, it is you who can decide to travel and visit places and people you have only seen on Instagram. It is you who can decide to perform acts of kindness and love and humanity. It is all up to you.”

In closing, Nota-Masse shared a portion of a children’s book with them that she recent read aloud to a class of kindergarten students at Arlington Elementary School, students who were just starting out on their own educational journeys.

“As I read this book, I thought this was wonderful advice to give to you all on this momentous day in your lives. While you are clearly no longer kindergarteners, hopefully you’ll take these wishes with you as you depart. The book is called, ‘I Wish You More.’ I wish you more ups than downs. I wish you more pause than fast forward. I wish you more umbrella than rain. I wish you more bubbles than bath. I wish you more treasures than pockets. I wish you more stories than stars. I wish all this for you…and more.’ I too, wish you all wonderful things. Go forth and begin the next part of your life’s adventures. It’s all up to you.”

The students received their diplomas and processed out of the Hope Highlands auditorium to a chorus of cheers and celebration from the audience.