This article was originally published in the summer 2013 Harker Quarterly.

The promotion ceremony on June 5 saw Harker’s grade 8 students begin a new stage in their academic lives, as they officially ended their journey as middle school students. The promotion season started on May 20 with a tradition begun last year: a luncheon for eighth graders to enjoy with each other and their advisors, this year held at a community center in Saratoga.

Head of School Chris Nikoloff welcomed the students to this year’s ceremony and congratulated them on the perseverance that led them to this juncture in their school careers. Grade 7 student Megan Huynh, who will serve as the middle school ASB president for the 2013-14 school year, led the students in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before a special slide show was shown, compiled by grade 8 students Riya Chandra and Alexis Gauba, displaying memorable scenes from the 2012-13 school year.

Scott Kley Contini, biology teacher and assistant director of instructional technology, gave a special speech to the soon-to-be upper school students, encouraging them to welcome the many opportunities that await them over the next four years.

Following a special performance of the Cyndi Lauper song “True Colors” by middle school vocal groups Harmonics and Vivace, rising senior Arjun Goyal, who will be next year’s upper school ASB president, gave a welcome address to the Class of 2017, making sure that the students have much to look forward to in the 2013-14 school year.

The members of the grade 8 class then received their promotion certificates from Nikoloff and Cindy Ellis, middle school head, who made some warm closing remarks to the students. The ceremony concluded with a singing of “The Harker School Song.”