GRADUATION 2006

The class of 2006 received their diplomas on Friday, June 9. At The Philadelphia School, graduation is a two-part affair. On Thursday evening, each Middle School advisor paid tribute to each of his or her advisees. Faculty from the Primary Unit and Junior Unit, speaking on behalf of their colleagues, reminisced about the years the graduates had spent in their units. TPS parent Mitchell Bach, on the occasion of the fifth and last "Bach" sibling to graduate from TPS, spoke about his family's 29-year affiliation with the school.

On Friday morning, before receiving their diplomas, each graduate had the opportunity to give a speech or perform. Interspersed throughout the ceremony were songs by the Primary and Junior Unit choruses, as well as a song by the sixth and seventh graders.

The guest speaker was Doreen Land, Ed.D., who is the the superintendent of the Promise Academies established in New York City by the Harlem Children's Zone. Diplomas were presented to the 25 graduates by Robert Adelson, president of the Board of Trustees.

Diplomas were also awarded this year to Sandy Dean, who left TPS this summer after 23 years as principal, and to Marcia Kravis, who left TPS after teaching music and drama for 23 years to pursue a full-time career as a harpsichordist.

L to r: Sandra Dean, Mitchell Bach, and Doreen Land address the Class of 2006.

Some memorable scenes from Graduation 2006:

Photography by Harry Roth.