St. Margaret’s had a special last day of the school year, as the entire school community came together to celebrate the Class of 2024 and reflect on a wonderful 2023-2024 school year during the All-School Closing Ceremony in Pasternack Field House.

 

This year’s traditional conclusion to the school year had a special new event preceding it. The Class of 2024 took part in a ceremonial walk around the entire St. Margaret’s campus, visiting their younger peers in the Early School, Lower School and Middle School. Students greeted the seniors with bubbles, pompoms, signs and lots of cheering as they snaked their way through campus and into Pasternack Field House.

 

There, the All-School Closing Ceremony recognized the Class of 2024, which will officially graduate during Commencement Exercises on Saturday. Also recognized was the Class of 2028 moving up to the Upper School and the Class of 2031 moving to the Middle School.

 

The All-School Closing Ceremony was also an opportunity to pass out two special school community awards. Senior Ciara Robertson was honored with the David G. Boyle Lifetime Service Award, given to a lifetime Tartan student whose service and dedication to the school best reflects the extraordinary contributions of the late David Boyle, former Associate Head of School, Upper School Principal and Faculty Emeritus who worked at St. Margaret’s from 1980 to 2012.

 

There was also the Susan A. Remsberg Award, which was awarded to Lower School science teacher David Beshk. The award is given annually to a member of the St. Margaret’s professional community for outstanding contributions and significant impact on the school community, exemplifying a profound commitment to St. Margaret’s mission and core values in the past year or recent years. Faculty emeritus Susan Remsberg was in attendance to present the award.

 

The ceremony also honored members of the professional community who are either retiring or celebrating milestone anniversaries at the school. Two longtime professional community members were named Professional Community Emeritus—the highest honor St. Margaret’s bestows on a member of the professional community. The honor and the traditional gift of a college chair with their years of service engraved on it was presented by Head of School Dr. Jeneen Graham to:

 

The ceremony concluded with a blessing, as St. Margaret’s prepares to demolish Wallace Hall in preparation for the St. Margaret’s Commons. Dr. Graham and each division principal were given a ceremonial sledgehammer which was blessed by the St. Margaret’s chaplains.