It’s hard to say goodbye to Hillbrook. On Tuesday, June 5th, as the Class of 2018 proceeded across the stage and into the Village of Friendly Relations newly graduated, misty eyes were everywhere. Even the white doves that traditionally fly over the graduates to mark the end of the ceremony were reluctant to take flight this year, and two days later, a half dozen of them still had not left campus.
It’s easy to see why. Hillbrook graduation is personal. It is full of beloved traditions, and marked each year with the originality and personality of the graduating class. In attendance and addressing the graduates and their families was Los Gatos Mayor Rob Rennie, who reflected on becoming a closer part of our community as he worked with our middle school students during their Lighting For Literacy project. Head of School, Mark Silver, called the Class of 2018 “change makers” and compared them to 23 year old Boyon Slat, who is embarking on a mission to clean up the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. Silver encouraged the graduates to go out and make their mark on the world, but to remember they always have a home at Hillbrook.
Student speakers reflected on how they had grown up at Hillbrook and the school’s impact on shaping them into the talented and capable young people they are today. Jaden S. was selected by her peers to speak for the Class of 2018, and in her remarks she noted the confidence that comes with growing up at Hillbrook. She also took time to recognize the long-time Hillbrook families who are departing with the Class of 2018. They include the Yuen’s, who are leaving Hillbrook after 18 years, and Moore’s, who are leaving after 20 years at Hillbrook.
Weston Del Signore, recent Bellarmine graduate and rising USC freshman and Founder’s Award winner from the Class of 2014, gave a hilarious and heartwarming commencement address where he warned graduates that high school is different than Hillbrook, but assured them they were ready for the change and encouraged them to embrace the differences and make high school feel like home, too.
As the ceremony wound to a close, Hillbrook students sang, “Live your story, faith, hope and glory” and looking into the audience you could see alums from a wide variety of graduating years, singing along and helping to send off the new graduates. Graduation at Hillbrook is special. It is a coming together of a community to celebrate and launch our 8th graders to the next step. From parents, grandparents, friends, former teachers, transfer students, alums and even the school’s very first student, Richard Cancilla (who never misses graduation or the school play), all felt the words of the closing song,”If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die.” It is perhaps fitting that the ceremony takes place in the Village of Friendly Relations because as the African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.”