Pictured front row, from left: Sky Breithaupt, Viva Ratray, Evelyn Van Orden, Katrina Hastings, Erin McGean; (middle row, from left): Nova Post, Alannah McNamara, Jackson Shulman, Ryan Maher; (back row, from left): McKenna Hendrickson, Riley Lampron, Sawyer Crosier, Duncan Harrington, Maddox Allard.
>> Click here to read The Bennington Banner article published on June 6th: “Village School welcomes back Class of 2020 for long-awaited ‘Senior Walk.”
Village School Welcomes Back Alumni for Special “Senior Walk” Celebration
The Village School of North Bennington welcomed back 14 alumni from the Class of 2020 for a special “Senior Walk” assembly on June 1, 2026, honoring them as they graduate from high school this year.
The majority of the alumni are graduating from Mt. Anthony Union High School, while several others attended Arlington Memorial High School, Cambridge Central School, and Hoosick Falls High School. Together, they returned to the Village School to celebrate their accomplishments from the years since they moved on from the Village School and mark the next chapter in their lives.
Head of School Tim Newbold introduced the graduates to an audience of current K-6 students and reflected on what connects them all.
“All of you have in common that you went to school here at the Village School. You will all be a part of the Village School always and forever.”
Newbold explained that the gathering was especially meaningful because this group’s final year at the Village School coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although their sixth-grade year began with familiar traditions such as the First Day Parade and the school’s annual sunflower ceremony, it ended very differently when schools across the country closed in March 2020.”
Newbold went on to say: “These students weren’t even in school for the last few months of their sixth-grade year. We thought it would be special to invite them back for a celebration in person.”
A slideshow highlighted photographs from the graduates’ years at the Village School, culminating with a photo from their unique sixth-grade graduation. Since pandemic restrictions prevented an in-person ceremony, empty chairs were arranged across the school’s front lawn, each displaying a student’s diploma, self-portrait, and a celebratory balloon. The ceremony was recorded and shared virtually with families on YouTube. Afterwards, Newbold delivered diplomas, balloons, and artwork to each student’s home. An article on the Village School’s virtual graduation was published in The Bennington Banner on June 11, 2020.
“Now, all these years later, they are having another graduation and taking the next leap into the world beyond,” Newbold said. “Some are heading to college, some are entering the workforce, and all of them have accomplished amazing things.”
Prior to the assembly, current sixth graders met with the returning alumni and asked questions about their experiences in middle school and high school. When asked what it felt like to return to the Village School and reunite with classmates, the graduates described the experience as “nostalgic,” “weird,” and “wonderful.”
Among the alumni was Jackson Shulman, who plans to attend Berklee College of Music to study audio engineering and production. He shared how opportunities such as “School of Rock” and other elective courses and extracurricular activities helped shape his middle school and high school experiences.
Current sixth-grade students also reflected on the memories they will carry with them as they prepare to graduate from the Village School.
“I will always remember the field trips because they made learning so much fun,” said Reagan.
Tate recalled a favorite trip to Ellis Island. “I remember loving the experience of seeing the Statue of Liberty with my classmates,” he said.
Sloane reflected on the school’s Reading Buddies program. “I remember looking at books with older students when I was younger, and now I’m one of the older students reading with the younger kids.”
Enso spoke about the lasting impact of the faculty. “One thing I’ll remember from the Village School is the teachers because they are so kind, helpful, and fun. They really make school a good experience.”
Sixth-grade teacher Tony Kasulinous noted the similarities between the memories shared by the current sixth graders and those shared by the graduating alumni.
Students from every grade level participated in the assembly. Fifth graders created personalized bookmarks for the graduates to “mark their place in time here,” while kindergartners shared their dreams for the future.
The kindergartners’ aspirations ranged from practical to ambitious: becoming a dentist (Liona), a crystal miner (Amara), a landscaper (Conner), President of the United States (Holden), or even a devoted Buffalo Bills fan (William)! These careers got plenty of smiles and laughter from the graduating alumni.
For many families, the event carried deep emotional significance. Kiernan McNamara, whose daughter Alannah is graduating from high school this year and headed to Siena College (and whose son Austin is graduating from sixth grade at the Village School) described the assembly as emotional. He said: “This group of students never had their sixth-grade graduation ceremony. I think this assembly brings closure for them because they never experienced a normal sixth grade, really.”
Bernie Barriere attended to celebrate his son Duncan Harrington, who is graduating this year and headed to Castleton University, where he will continue to pursue wrestling as well. Barriere, an alumnus of the North Bennington Graded School (NBGS)l, said it was special to return. “You couldn’t ask for a better place,” he said.
Duncan’s mother, Amy Harrington, said: “I think it was such a special assembly and hope the school continues it. The seniors didn’t have to come back to the Village School for this assembly, but they chose to and enjoyed being there. It was a remarkable thing to see the kindergartners do their presentations for the alumni. It melted my heart when they came out. I appreciate all the Village School has done for my sons.”
Tammy Carpenter, Village School Office Manager and NBGS alumna, organized the “Senior Walk” assembly. She said the idea came about when Village School alumna Ryleigh Ware was working at the school last year and got all of her classmates to visit the Village School and take photos at our school before graduating from high school. It sparked the idea with us that we would love to do this every year: inviting our graduating high school seniors to come back. Then this evolved into an actual assembly and celebration. Mt. Anthony Union High School was wonderful to distribute the invitations to all of the seniors graduating there, and then I reached out to a parent who helped me find the rest of the students who had moved away.”
A highlight of the assembly was when the current sixth graders presented each graduate with a sunflower, completing the Village School tradition they didn’t experience in 2020.
The sunflower ceremony, which Newbold introduced to the Village School 10 years ago, takes place on the first and last day of school and symbolizes growth, possibility, and new beginnings.
Newbold added: “Sunflowers are always following the sun, following the light.” Turning to the high school graduates, he offered a final message: “I hope you find your light in this next chapter and follow it. Congratulations on your graduation!”
As the graduates accepted their sunflowers and stood once again among the Village School community that helped shape them, the ceremony served as both a celebration of their achievements and a meaningful conclusion to their Village School chapter that had been left unfinished six years ago.
