Alina Rose Chen Photo
Members of the Class of 2025 pose with their sixth-grade teachers.
Ronnie Oxendine celebrated graduating from 6th grade at Lincoln-Bassett Community School with 25 of his classmates Tuesday. Having enjoyed English Language Arts this year and playing basketball, he is excited to attend 7th and 8th grade in the same Newhallville building, following the planned merger of Lincoln-Bassett and Wexler-Grant into one PreK-8th grade school next academic year.
Oxendine’s family also celebrated his Attendance Award, “He’s a good boy,” his grandmother said fondly as Ronnie hid behind the helium “Grad!” balloons. “I know he’s going to have a bright and good future.”
The event, held in the auditorium, was the last Lincoln-Bassett sixth grade promotion ceremony. Beginning next school year, the merged community will instead only celebrate the graduation of eighth graders into high school. Half of this year’s sixth graders will remain at Lincoln-Bassett, while the other half will attend various other middle schools around the city.
Ronnie Oxendine and his family celebrate his graduation.
Throughout the ceremony, families cheered and applauded the graduating class for their achievements, celebrated through the presentation of awards by the Lincoln-Bassett sixth grade teachers, as well as a number of student performances. Principal’s Award recipient Elijah Richardson read the poem “Graduate” by Niki Alling. The Class of 2025, led by music teacher Mr. Kevin Farrell, also sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “Anyhow” by The Tedeschi Trucks Band, and “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5.
Nadian Martinez, who will also remain at Lincoln-Bassett next school year, said that “being here” at Lincoln-Bassett is what he is most looking forward to for his remaining years in middle school. His favorite classes include math with Mr. Hardy and science with Ms. Quirk.
Nadian was also presented with the Class Participation Award for his active engagement and passion — and a large bouquet of candy from his mother. “Lincoln-Basset is really like a family,” she said, citing the great group of friends Nadian has found — including Ronnie, who came by to steal an Airhead.
Nadian Martinez and math teacher Mr. Jaheim Hardy look forward to new Lincoln-Bassett.
The ceremony also included a recitation of Lincoln-Basset’s SOAR oath: “Every day I will SOAR with Safe behaviors, On task behaviors, Accountability for my actions and Respect for myself and others.”
Leah McLean was selected for the SOAR Award for her embodiment of this oath. She also designed the yearbook cover for the class, which included a red eagle — representing the school’s mascot and motto, “Where Eagles Soar and Failure is Not an Option” — a notebook, and a calculator. Despite her talent for art, her favorite class this year was science: “We did lots of experiments.”
Special Education teacher Janice Barrett, who is on the team managing the planned Wexler-Bassett merge, said that the events hosted within the last few weeks for students to meet their future classmates, tour the building, and experience school culture first-hand have stirred up more excitement about the coming year.
“We’re very family oriented,” Barrett said. “What happens outside these walls doesn’t affect what happens in these walls.”
Leah McLean shows off her yearbook design.