NEW BEDFORD - Alma del Mar celebrated the graduation of its largest eighth grade cohort this week with 144 graduates receiving their certificate. These graduates will now attend the high school of their choosing, including Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, New Bedford High School (including its Academy of Honors), Bishop Stang and Bristol Aggie.
On Wednesday, June 11, fifty eighth grade scholars graduated from Alma’s Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus. The class speakers were Nathaniel Torres and Emmily Alves. Andrew Jacome, seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher, was the staff speaker.
“Whether you walked through the doors of Alma nine years ago for the first day of kindergarten, or you joined along the way, we’ve all found something here that’s challenging to let go of,” Alves said. “Any other school would just not compare. The teachers we’ve met, the bonds we’ve created, and the memories we’ve cherished and celebrated have cultivated something truly special: a family. That’s what makes leaving so hard. However, today is not just about looking back; it’s about moving forward. This is not an end, but a beginning. I believe with all my heart that every one of you will go on to do incredible new things.”
Fifty eighth grade scholars, including 20 of whom attended Alma since kindergarten (known as the “Nine Year Club” and in bold below), graduated from Alma’s Sarah D. Ottiwell Campus:
Aundrea Abarca
Jada Jackson
Rylan Abbe
Leily Jimon
Aliyah Almeida
Marvin Jimon De La Cruz
Emmily Alves *Recipient of ELA Academic Excellence Award
Luisa Kersten Schmidt
Raneem Amara *Recipient of Social Studies Academic Excellence Award
Ava Leon
Alahni Arias
Jen Carlos Lopes
Jefferson Burgos Rivas
Janess "Korey" Lopes
Justin Burgos Rivas
Dylan Luis Garcia
Jan Lucas Carranza *Recipient of Math Academic Excellence Award
Rosalind Martinez
Jeremiah Castonguay
Joran Martinez-Mendez
Daviana Conceicao *Recipient of Science Academic Excellence Award
Rylin Paris
Danika Correa
Laila Pires
Christian Correira
Ayleen Rapalo-Enamorado
Damiel Couvertier Solivan
Alexsia Rivas
Abigail Cuadra Mendez
Julian Rivas
Le'Andra Da Silva
Alyssa Rodriguez
Caylee De La Rosa
Taiza Tavares
Andreilis De Los Santos
Matthew Teixeira
Braiden Ferreira
Jaden Tejeda
Luana Ferreira Tavares
Melinda Tiniguar-Chacaj
Fabian Funes-Velazquez
Julianna Torres
Jaydin Furtado
Nathaniel Torres
Jonah Gonzalez
Aaliyah Veras
Antony Green-Bodden
Anderson Viera
Yoeli Guerrero Peguero
Ember Warncke Prince
A total of 94 eighth grade scholars graduated from Alma’s Frederick Douglass Campus the next day, on Thursday, June 12. Two of the graduates, Naliyah Young and Alexaira Bruno, reflected on their middle school experiences during the ceremony. Travis Mapp, eighth grade ELA teacher, was the staff speaker.
“Although we have all experienced these three years differently, something that we’ve all encountered and gone through was change,” Alexaira Bruno said. “Within this change was growth. Walking into this school for the first time we were all people we wouldn't even recognize now. As we moved on to eighth grade, I didn’t know what to expect, but when I transitioned I was held to expectations that forced me to be better. As I adjusted to these expectations I started seeing as a whole we all did too. I saw the amount of people that started reaching for more than ‘enough,’ and even more that exceeded the normal expectations. In all, we might be different but we all share change, even if it isn’t as noticeable.”
Below is the full list of Douglass Campus 8th grade graduates:
Aaron Sargent
Adaya Bruno
Addison Larkin *Recipient of Math Academic Excellence award
Aissatou (Ayesha) Diallo
Alexa Arevalo Guevara
Alexaira Bruno
Aliss Turcios Zapata
Amiyah Pires
Amya Roldan-Mendez
Anaelis Alvarenga
Andres Pereyra
Aneidy DÃaz Gonzalez
Angeliz Alvarado-Soto
Aubree Lagesse
Avalyn Pacheco
Avery Furtado
Axel Leonel Arias Martinez
Braiden Therrien
Briana Reyes Ramos
Brody Rodrigues
Calli Strait
Carlos Lopes Tavares
Cesar Vazquez
Christian Melendez
Christopher Colton
Cristian Moronta
Dareshlie Leon-Serrano
Daveion Lovell-Soares
Dennis Tiniguar Xirum
Derick Padilla Cubas
Deysi Abarca Pineda
Dylan Alfonso Alegria Mazariegos
Edil Figueroa Montanez
Eli Fuster
Eliel Lima-Torres
Emias Gonzalez
Emily Rivas Rivera
Halli Strait
Ja'Drian Luz
Jacob Pacheco
Jade Calmeira
Jakobie Graham
Jaquelin Cabrera-Aguilar
Jaydan Hernandez
Jazmine Heyliger
Jefferson Carranza Rivas
Jens Simaj Sam
Jeremiah Lopez
Jeremiah Resendes
Jessiah Owens
Jesuina Lopes Almeida
Jocelyn Lucas-Ixcuna
Johary Maravilla Ponce
Jose Mauricio Flores
Josiah Rivera-Perez
Josue Cardoza Abarca
Julianna Vardo
Kamila Ortiz Estrada
Kamilla Barbosa
Kelly Portillo *Recipient of Science Academic Excellence award
Keneth Santos-Gomez
Khloe Amaral
Kimberly Palacios Lopez
Kirana Gadson
Laleska Antunez
Leonel Zaloshnja
Madison Zeferino
Marilu Da Cruz
Mason Lopez
Mason Miranda
Mason Zeferino
Matthew Souza *Recipient of ELA Academic Excellence award
Mayra Sequeira
Melanie Giron Alvarado *Recipient of Social Studies Academic Excellence award
Merlyn Andrade Carranza
Migdoel DÃaz Gonzalez
Naliyah Young
Nathaly Alvarado
Nayarit Cruz Diaz
Nayeli Toro Hernandez
Neishaliz Sanchez
Niciani Maques Borges
Noah Mcmanus
Norieliz Delvalle Mejia
Nyzaiah Ramos Pina
Ricardo Hernandez
Roger Monteiro
Savannah Windsor
Seth Gonsalves
Sofia Aldana Vargas
Stefany Little
Veronica Ventura-Tapia
Yaniel Fernandes
Yostin Martinez Mejia
Of Alma’s 144 eighth grade graduates, 51% will attend GNB Voc-Tech, 41% will attend New Bedford High School (many are enrolled in New Bedford’s Honors program), and 2% will attend Dartmouth High.
About Alma del Mar Charter Schools:
Alma del Mar Charter Schools operates two K-8th grade charter public schools in New Bedford. The schools are tuition-free and enrollment is set by a public lottery each winter. Alma’s mission is to put every scholar on the path to college and to challenge them to be service-minded leaders. Alma achieves this mission by providing a demanding and supportive education to every scholar who walks through their doors. Alma features a longer school day, a longer school year, high expectations for all scholars, and outstanding teachers from across the country.