Under the wide white tent in Rogers Quad, surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, and faculty, The Green Vale School Class of 2025 gathered for a moment they’d dreamed of yet couldn’t entirely believe was here. This was more than a graduation. For many of the “GVS Lifers,” students who had been here since Nursery, it was a farewell to the place where their earliest memories were made. For others, it was a goodbye to a school that became home in a matter of years. Together, they stood on the threshold of something new, pausing to reflect on everything they’d built and shared.
The sense of belonging at Green Vale is palpable, a thread that connects students not just to each other but to something much greater. Mr. Balzano, the 8th Grade teacher and advisor chosen by the students to speak, reflected on the shared growth they experienced together. “We didn’t just arrive here; we became part of something bigger,” he reflected. “This school has given you teachers who saw your potential, friends who had your back, and a community that wants nothing more than to see you succeed.”
For Aiden Castro, the 8th Grade student speaker, the moment was deeply personal. He spoke of his own journey, arriving at Green Vale in 2019 after being diagnosed with alopecia. “Nobody treated me differently,” he shared thoughtfully. “You embraced me as one of your own.” His story was one of many, a testament to the openness and acceptance that defines the Green Vale community. He spoke to the friendships they’d all built, the hurdles they’d overcome, and the moments they’d laughed until their stomachs hurt. “We’ve built a unique community here—not just as classmates, but as people who care deeply about each other.”
And that caring spirit isn’t by accident; it’s deliberately nurtured. Green Vale’s impact on its students stems from the connections they form—not just with peers but with their teachers, too. Aiden spoke fondly of teachers who had shaped them, whether through preparing them for the next academic leap or teaching them life lessons disguised as classes. To name a few, he noted, “Ms. Daley prepared us for high school. Mr. Wood and Ms. Hunt taught us that English isn’t just words, it’s a way of expressing yourself. And Ms. I? Well, she taught us the value of commitment.”
Beneath the tent, as diplomas were handed out and the applause was steady, nostalgia filled every corner. The DC trip, Blue-Gold Field Day, and even the small, silly moments in basketball games or hallway whispers became vivid memories once more. And when the 8th Graders gathered to sing (another cherished tradition), their voices were fragile with emotion, and, for some, tears slipped down as they sung the White Stripes’ “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
Dr. Jesse Dougherty, head of school, underscored the heart of Green Vale’s mission in his address. He reminded the graduates that they had taught their teachers just as much as they’d learned from them. “You’ve shown us how to always be present, how to live with joy, and how important it is to know yourself,” he said. “You see the world with empathy and connection, and you do it with joy.”
He encouraged them to carry these qualities with them into the world, emphasizing that their time at Green Vale would forever bind them to this community. “We have our invisible string of love,” he said, quoting The Invisible String. “It ties us together, no matter where your next steps take you.” Dr. Dougherty’s words resonated deeply—his firm belief in their ability to bring positive change to the world reflected the School's mission to nurture intellect, character, and confidence.
Green Vale’s legacy is not just in the buildings or the traditions but in the people who carry its values forward. Each student walked away not just with a piece of paper, but with shared experiences, friendships, and lessons that will shape who they become. And as the white tent emptied and the day came to a close, one thing was certain: the Class of 2025, with all their heart, individuality, and strength, would forever remain a part of Green Vale’s story.
Congratulations to the following graduation award recipients:
Lifer’s Awards: Francis D., Margaret D., Augustus L., Zachary D., Hugh O., Mason P., Carson P., Charles P., Graham S., Liam V., Alexander Y.
Buckley Award for Effort and Achievement: Renita M., Madison D.
Head of School Awards
“For your athleticism, school spirit, and commitment to the Green Vale community”: Mason P.
“For exhibiting the great characteristics of maturity, motivation, kindness to others, and your musical talents”: Mia B.
The Robert Fenwick Jackson Bowl for Excellence in Academic and Athletic Endeavor: Kaito C., Molly L.
The Thomas M. Bancroft, Jr. Citizenship Award: Hugh O., Margaret D.
The Penny Doerge Character Award: Francis D.
The Benjamin Farnsworth Vanderpoel Award: Jacob J.
Derby Medal for Strong Character: Aiden C.
Congratulations to the following year-end award recipients:
Warner Speech Contest: Margaret D.
The Frederick Driscoll Award: David B.
Brock Award for Excellence in Art: Hugh O.
Class of 1967 Music Award for Effort and the Advancement of Music at Green Vale: Chorus – Adetola B. & Ensemble – Oliver I.
The George V. Bartlett Rose Award for Shop: Nathan R.
John A. Cosentino Drama Award: Alexander Y.
Cheryl L. Webb Girls' Athletic Award: Sophie K.
Joseph J. Julien Athletic Award for Excellence in Athletics: Liam V.
The Marguerite K. Wheeler Award for Mathematics: Daniel Z.
Carlyle J. Coash, Jr. History Award: Henry D.
The JonPatrick Barry Science Award: Jourdyn T.
Ruth E. Deakins Bowl for 6th Grade Highest Average: Armen J., Michael M., Sydney W.
Sevastopoulo Bowl for Academic Achievement: Bianca S., Davis V.
The John C. Green Bowl for the Highest Academic Average in 8th Grade: Jourdyn T., Daniel Z.