Consolidated School graduates 31 at fairgrounds ceremony

BLUE HILL—By the evening of June 15, intermittent showers, heavy mist and overcast skies began to dissipate just in time for the musical prelude marking the beginning of the Blue Hill Consolidated School’s eighth-grade graduation ceremonies, held at the Blue Hill Fairgounds.

- JEFFREY B. ROTH

Addressing an audience from a stage in front of the viewing stands, Principal Shelly Schildroth welcomed more than 100 family members, friends, faculty and staff to the 2021 ceremonies. She noted that due to the pandemic, families had to view the prior year’s graduation from parked vehicles on the other side of the stage.

“This year, we are so excited to flip the stage and be together,” Schildroth said. She asked the audience to take a moment to recognize Mark Hurvitt, who is retiring as School Union 93 superintendent at the end of June. Hurvitt demonstrated “true leadership throughout his entire career, but this past year, he has guided our School Union to be open to students nearly every single day, in person, when more than 75 percent of the nation was unable to do so. Our students, our staff and our community are lucky to have had you guiding our ship,” she said.

“I also want to recognize the BHCS teachers and staff while I’m here at the podium,” Schildroth said. “I cannot say enough about your dedication, your skill and your perseverance this year and the end of last year, which has shown this more than ever before. We were asked to literally change the way that we educate children in a weekend. And we did it.”