Bubbles, Balloons Fill The Air For Mauro-Sheridan Drive-Through

Over a hundred cars decked out with balloons, paint, and signs rolled through an end-of-year drive-through Thursday afternoon for students at Mauro-Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School (MASH).

Faculty and staff lined the perimeter of the parking lot behind the school greeting student families as they passed.

MASH graduated 50 eighth graders in a virtual graduation ceremony at 10 a.m.. Eighth-grade graduates were then invited to receive their diplomas at 12:45 p.m. in the drive-through celebration.

Starting at 1 p.m., MASH encouraged the other 484 students from Pre‑K to seventh grade to pass through, saying goodbye to teachers for the summer.

Principal Sandy Kaliszewski enthusiastically ran up to each car, determined to greet students and hand every eighth grader their diploma. At every car, Kaliszewski praised the graduates for their individual accomplishments and growth.

Aas each car pulled away, Kaliszewski and other teachers at the end of the drive-through glowingly described each eighth grader and talked about how much they will be missed next year.

Through her six years at MASH, Kaliszewski said, she has formed strong relationships with the students and their families. ​“We knew we had to do something very special for them!”

Marina, who won the principal’s award for eighth grade, said she is going to miss MASH next year: ​“I had great teachers and an amazing principal!” Although sad to leave, Marina said she is very excited for high school. ​“I’m most excited about meeting new friends,” she said.

Pre‑K teacher Michele Bernardo said that while it was hard for students to miss walking across a stage, she loves how schools have adapted to create more community based graduations. Bernardo’s parents live near Lighthouse Park, where many high school graduations have been taking place this past week. She said they’ve enjoyed cheering on graduates and feeling part of commencement ceremonies. ​“New Haven really came together,” she said.

Typically, eighth-grade graduation at MASH includes students, parents, and some administrators. Fellow Pre‑K teacher Renee Raspardo said she also loved being involved in the graduation this year to celebrate the students and wish them well in high school.

School support staff member Sean Hardy, who has been at MASH for over 20 years, said all the faculty and staff worked hard through online learning to organize activities including the online graduation, a virtual yearbook, and an online celebration of their annual ​‘Fun Day’ event on Wednesday. 

“I am so proud of the eighth graders and wish them nothing but the best,” Hardy said.

Surrounded by balloons, graduate Chani stood up through the roof of her car to wave to her teachers. When asked what she will miss most about MASH next year, Chani replied, ​“Everything!”

In tears, many eighth graders thanked their teachers and administrators for their work.

Families with younger students in Pre‑K and kindergarten also held up posters and drawings thanking their teachers.

Some even handed out flowers to their favorite teachers.

“We miss the eighth graders already,” said seventh and eighth-grade math teacher Debi Kosloff. ​“They have such personality and are so unique and their depth is just incredible.”

During at-home learning, Kosloff was online from eight in the morning to eight thirty or nine at night teaching classes, correcting work, or meeting with students. Kosloff said she tried to stay available at any time to meet with students over Google Meet if they needed help which allowed her to get very close with the graduating eighth graders.

“These kids love us and we love them,” Kosloff said.

Parent and teacher at MASH Amanda Moreno said the school community really feels like a family. ​“The teachers here love what they do and they really do want to see the kids succeed.” She said for teachers at MASH, their work isn’t just a job, but a passion.

“And the eighth graders had such perseverance to push through and worked so hard,” Moreno added. 

Two of Moreno’s children have graduated from MASH. Her other two children, Mason and Oliver, are current students. Rising fourth-grader Mason said that during online learning, he missed his teachers. Oliver, who is going into sixth grade, said he missed his friends and is excited to see them again next year.