From the June 28, 2007 issue of The Cape Codder

Guest Commentary: Passing on the light at the charter school

By Peter Trull

Orleans - The eighth-grade students at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School have celebrated graduation and will disperse this September in as many directions as the autumn leaves that blow. North to Nauset Regional High School, south to Chatham High, west to Harwich and Dennis-Yarmouth, Sturgis and Barnstable high schools. Some students will attend private schools including Tabor Academy and The Cambridge School.

The end of the school year brings ceremony that lasts for two days and includes students in sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grades. An open house for students and families highlights and displays projects and creative activities that the students have completed, followed by the traditional "Pass on the Light" ceremony where all students, beginning with the eighth-graders, light candles and pass on the flame to seventh-graders and then to the sixth-graders, until the playground is encircled with a ring of light symbolizing the beacon that is a part of the CCLCS community tradition. As darkness falls, the disc jockey cranks up the music and a block dance livens up Bayberry Square.

The following evening, eighth-grade graduation takes place at Nauset Regional High School auditorium. Each student is called to the podium and presented a book or other literary gift by one of the CCLCS teachers. Each teacher "graduates" from three to five students with a brief anecdote or story, praising the child's accomplishments and/or personality. This is the heart of the graduation ceremony and is always rich in emotion, ranging from pride to laughter ... sometimes tears.

During the award ceremony, the Nauset Rotary Award for civic responsibility was proudly presented to Annie Larsson, and the first John Klenshinski Award, in honor of CCLCS's board treasurer who died during this school year. Sarah Martin and Phil Stein proudly accepted the first of many presentations of this distinguished award.

All in all, the school year ended in spirited celebration, but the heart of Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School beats throughout the summer, with a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Adventure Program led by health/gym teacher Allison Graham, and a Friday Nature Discovery Program led by science teacher Peter Trull. If you know a middle schooler looking for summer fun, call or check in at CCLCS at 508-240-2800. Here's wishing everybody a fun summer.

Peter Trull teaches science at Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School in Orleans.