May 29, 2019
A lot of class
New Town Class of 2019 has 60 members
By Jerry W. Kram
By Jerry W. Kram
Sunday’s graduation ceremony took a bit longer than usual, but nobody minded because the reason was that a record number of graduates crossed the stage at the New Town School gymnasium to receive their diplomas.
There are 60 members of the New Town Class of 2019, more than a dozen more graduates than last year’s record setting class. New Town Superintendent Mark Bluestone said there were a few reasons for this year’s large class size.
“We really did a lot outreach to kids who had left school early,” Bluestone said. “We will continue to do that to get them to come back to get their diploma or GED. Our outreach efforts are working, we just have to get more support from the families and the community. Every child should graduate from high school.”
He said the Ma-Adoo-Za-Gidz Alternative School and the effort to convince older students to return combined to increase the size of the graduating class by a third. He also credited the High School day care program with making it possible for some students to stay in school. Five of this year’s graduates are parents.
There are 60 members of the New Town Class of 2019, more than a dozen more graduates than last year’s record setting class. New Town Superintendent Mark Bluestone said there were a few reasons for this year’s large class size.
“We really did a lot outreach to kids who had left school early,” Bluestone said. “We will continue to do that to get them to come back to get their diploma or GED. Our outreach efforts are working, we just have to get more support from the families and the community. Every child should graduate from high school.”
He said the Ma-Adoo-Za-Gidz Alternative School and the effort to convince older students to return combined to increase the size of the graduating class by a third. He also credited the High School day care program with making it possible for some students to stay in school. Five of this year’s graduates are parents.
