Sara Sandstrom, Nederland. The Nederland Middle School Eighth Grade Promotion ceremony took place on May 26, 2021. Forty eighth graders walked into the auditorium to Pomp and Circumstance and took a seat on the stage. 

Nederland Middle Senior High School (NMSHS) Principal Rick Elertson welcomed the parents and congratulated the students on this milestone in their education career. 

Middle school teachers took the time to write a sentence or two about each student. The words spoke of the students’ strengths, positive attributes or a funny moment the teacher remembered. Mr. Elertson added his own wit and humor as he read the comments. It was certainly entertaining and touching. 

Long time middle school teacher Lauren Timken gave the closing remarks. Ms. Timken has resigned from NMSHS and made her remarks very brief as she knew it would be difficult to speak for long. Ms. Timken loved teaching this class. She said that this group made teaching fun. They are a kind and hilarious group. She said, “They are amazing humans.”

We all know that the years we spend in middle school are generally some pretty awkward and difficult years. From the sounds of it this class has handled it quite well. 

Class of 2025, welcome to high school!

Nederland Middle School eighth graders are: Jayden Abookire, Robert Akerley, Talon Barry, Mateo Beauvineau, Amelie Bodnar, Henry Dufton, Maeve Dufton, Gideon Emery, Julio Garcia Cova, Natalia Garcia Upczak, Emily Geels, Jacob Geels, Maddox Gioia, Kaylyn Holmes, Dean Howell, Payton Kutscher, Morgan Lake, Annabella Lamb, Davyn Meade, Brian Mexia Baratta, Autumn Pattridge, Aya Pelkum Donahue, Keahi Pelkum Donahue, Emma Pilarcik, Kiley Ralstin, Gray Schlosser, Lauren Schrader, Cedar Shupe, Grayson Shurr, Jesse Siegal Gane, Koa Siglin, Grizzly Steuck, Jonica Stevens, Shaiann Stover-Winter, Eric Thurston, Jolie Turner, Laila Waldron, Jacob Watt, Elijah Weiner, Kendall Zotti. 

(Originally published in the June 3, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)