The Fred J. Stackpole Elementary School community recently celebrated a bittersweet milestone.

The school hosted a ceremony for its final class of fifth-grade "graduates."

82 Stackpole students received promotion certificates during a ceremony Friday morning.

Martisa Lovelace, 5th grade teacher, said there were magical people around the school.

"These children were only able to achieve this milestone due to how much hard work was put into them," she said to the large group of family and friends assembled in the school's gymnasium.

Lovelace encouraged the parents in attendance to continue actively participating in their child's new school, and to consider joining the home and school association.

Among many awards distributed, six students received the American Citizenship Award.

"This award is presented to students whose mere presence makes the classroom a better place to be," said Principal Kelley O'Leary.

Kyle Bateman, Timothy Breiner, Theodore Ciarciello, Katherine Dankulich, Conner Dugan and Jeremy Edwards all received this honor.

Fourteen students were awarded the Silver Level President's Education Award - an award of distinguished academic achievement throughout fourth and fifth grade.

This award requires students to score above the 90th percentile in all major subjects, to achieve a rating of proficient in all special subjects and to receive the rating of satisfactory for all of the characteristics of a successful learner.

They are: Timothy Breiner, Zachary Chast, Anthony Colella, Sean Cotton, Matthew D'Ambra, Isabella DeMarco, Miles Hutton, Danielle Mishin, Natalie Ronin, Victoria Ruthardt, Patrick Shepper, Emily Vikalitis, Michael Woods and Tyler Yannuzzi.

One student, Robert Walton, was honored with the Gold Level President's Education Award. Walton met all of the requirements for the silver level award, but in addition his average in each major subject was above the 94th percentile for all marking periods during both 4th and 5th grade.

In her closing remarks, O'Leary told the students to "raise [their] right hand, flip it around and give [themselves] a pat on the back."

"You did it," she said. 

And with that the students turned to the audience to thank their families for their support before processing out of the school's gynasium.

This was the final "graduating" class of Stackpole Elementary School. The building was recently sold, and next year all elementary-level students from Southampton in Centennial will attend the new Davis Elementary School.

For a complete list of all of the students honored in the promotion ceremony, see the .pdf section of this article.