“Help is always available for those who ask. Benjamin can always be home,” said Head of Upper School Mr. Carr. With these few words, Mr. Carr reminded the Class of 2025 that even as they prepare to leave campus, their connection to Benjamin is far from over.
On Friday, May 3rd, the Senior Assembly offered one final moment of unity both a heartfelt farewell and a celebration of all the seniors have accomplished. For underclassmen and faculty alike, the assembly was a chance to show appreciation; for seniors, it was a moment to look back and ahead, surrounded by the community that has helped shape them.
The tradition began, as always with a clap in: seniors entered the gym wearing their college shirts, each one signed by classmates, faculty, and administration. After welcoming words from Mr. Carr, Head of School Mr. Faus addressed the class, thanking them for their contributions to academics, athletics, service, and student life. He commended the seniors for being “whole students’’ and setting a great standard for everyone to live up to.
Mr. Carr then returned to reflect on the seniors’ growth and the bitter- sweet nature of the moment. “Never again will we all be in the same place together. This assembly is really a chance for the community to be together one final time,” Carr said.
That message landed especially hard for many seniors. “It hit me all at once. I won’t ever sit across from my brother in the stands again. I thought about the game, the assemblies, and the little moments that once felt so normal but now feel so special,” Senior Chloe McGann expressed.
The assembly transitioned into performances that showcased some of the seniors’ creativity and spirit. Senior David Frear performed “Drive” by Incubus on guitar, followed by a heartfelt duet by Seniors Riley Weinberger and Sage Sorenson, singing “Spring into Summer” by Lizzy McAlpine. Between performances, three beloved faculty members, Ms. Gasparini, Mr. Anderson, and Mrs. Grillo offered parting advice to the class and expressed their gratitude for being part of such a special community.
The morning then concluded with the entire school standing to sing the Alma Mater before the seniors made their final walk around the gym, past teachers, underclassmen, and peers.
For the seniors, the walk brought a mix of emotions. “As I walked around the gym, I was thinking how much I am going to miss the comfort and familiarity of Benjamin. I know in college it will be difficult to find many professors who have such close relationships with their students as Benjamin teachers have with theirs. So the senior assembly really gave me the time to soak in that it’s all over. It gave me time to process saying goodbye to Benjamin and for the faculty and students to show us how much they love us and how Benjamin isn’t just a school, its a community,” McGann shared.
Senior Jonathan Vidal had a similar experience as McGann. “The Senior Assembly really felt like a full-circle moment: a celebration of everything we’ve gone through together. I am going to miss the small, unplanned moments the most. The inside jokes before class, the long talks in the hallway, the way a teacher’s encouragement could turn your whole day around,” Vidal said.
For seniors, the gathering was the beginning of goodbye and a look forward to the next chapter of their lives. For the rest of the school, it was one final chance, to cheer, to clap, and to say “well done” to the Class of 2025.
