‘Have Hope, and Thank You’: Conard High School Celebrates Class of 2022

West Hartford’s Conard High School held its 2022 commencement ceremony on the grounds of the school on June 14, 2022.

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Baylee Krulewitz. Photos by Ronni Newton

Sweaty and a bit weary from the sun, soon-to-be Conard grads reached under their chairs at the instruction of Ramona Puchalski-Piretti, the faculty member selected to give the address to the class. 

There, each of the 363 students found a personalized letter from various Conard staff members, a special celebration for the Class of 2022. This sweet gift capped off a remarkable evening of joy and love for the seniors as they move on to whatever post-secondary life may bring them.

The National Anthem is translated into American Sign Language. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Senior members of Conard’s different choirs sang several songs throughout the evening, including the Conard Alma Mater, Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn,” and the National Anthem. The National Anthem was enhanced this year, as for the first time Conard had students translating the song into American Sign Language while the choir sang. This new development reflected the themes of inclusion and pride discussed in the speeches.

The first speaker was Quinn Moynihan, Conard’s class president. Moynihan highlighted the supreme perseverance of this graduating class, saying “More than half of our time in high school has been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. We’ve all had a unique experience, and we’ve gone through it together.”

Class President Quinn Moynihan. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

She reflected on this past year, grateful for the fact that students experienced at least some degree of normalcy. 

Moynihan’s speech ended with a sincere congratulations to all the graduates and a message of praise for all that they’ve accomplished.

Next to speak was Jamahl Hines, Conard’s principal – his first graduation ceremony since getting this job, Hines delivered a speech peppered with personal connections and appreciation for the seniors. 

Principal Jamahl Hines. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

He noted the importance of parents celebrating their childrens’ successes. “I practice what I preach,” he said. “I flew my mother, Ms. Haywoodene Hines, here from Rock Hill, South Carolina for this event ‘cause I need my momma here too!” 

In an emotional message about uncertainty and growth, Hines recalled the times in the past when he sat on the Conard graduation stage, watching other people giving speeches and being thankful it wasn’t him. Now, he said, “Isn’t it funny how life responds when we make proclamations like that?” 

He’s experienced many personal changes since he sat on that stage in the past. With racial tensions high and a pandemic throwing the world into unpredictability, Hines said he “​​felt emotionally paralyzed.” Yet, the class of 2022, with their passion, kind hearts, and activism propelled him back, leading Hines to a trust in courage, inspiration, and togetherness. 

He ended his speech with a message of gratitude to the graduates: “Thank you for your humanity.”

Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Superintendent Tom Moore, speaking for the final time in that capacity as he prepares to depart for a job in the Chicago area, gave a brief but powerful speech about outlook. He started off by asking a simple question to the audience: “Are you someone who counts their blessings or tallies their slights?” 

Moore declared that it’s important graduates surround themselves with optimists, with those who count their blessings. He instructed the class of 2022 to choose wisely, and to use their gifts.

Board of Education speaker Clare Taylor Neseralla. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Board of Education member Clare Neseralla commended the graduating generation, saying it’s one that “accepts the other, celebrates diversity, and not only believes in inclusion but puts it into action.” Resilience and problem-solving abilities are qualities that Neseralla applauded in this class – a group that includes the last of the students she taught at Duffy Elementary School. 

Neseralla reminded the audience of a beloved tradition where seniors receive a letter written by their fifth grade selves, remarking just how much they’ve achieved since then. Finally, she urged graduates to use their voices, with an influential quote from her mother: “I hate it when I don’t get what I don’t ask for.” 

Class commencement speakers featured two graduates who were selected by a committee. 

Student speaker Agatha Stephany Dias Pinheiro. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Agatha Stephany Dias Pinheiro spoke about her early life living in Brazil, and then moving to America in 2010. She told of her Tio and his “quiet way of loving and caring for me.” Pinheiro then discussed her difficult move to America after her father’s death, with funny quips about the experience like “Even the food was scary; you all eat milk and cereal for breakfast – what a strange thing.” 

Pinheiro’s eventual empowerment was a key part of the speech, but this empowerment only came after dark times: “I have had incredible moments of heartache that impacted my life a lot but I have chosen to allow them to only help me grow,” she said. She used this learning experience to tell the audience that personal wins often come from hardships, and the graduating class has dealt with plenty.

The audience erupted into cheers when Pinheiro announced: “Today I am going to be the first person in my whole family to go to college, as I believe many of you can relate. There have been a lot of firsts in my life.” 

Then, she handed it off to Lily Kluskiewicz, the next student speaker. 

Student speaker Lily Kluskiewicz. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

With a personal tale of of what she considered an unsatisfactory grade on a first grade report card (a “P”), Kluskiewicz emphasized a theme of not dwelling on what we cannot change. She instead recommends using past missteps or misjudgements to help improve character. While no one can “pick up a clock and magically turn back the time to study more, not argue, be more outgoing, or push yourself harder,” Kluskiewicz acknowledged that people can continue to blossom. 

She ended with a simple question to the grads: “So, four years at Conard High School, what are you going to do with it?”

Faculty speaker Ramona Puchalski-Piretti. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The final speaker was English teacher Puchalski-Piretti, who piloted the letters-under-the-seat idea. In her speech, she reinforced the idea that while graduates are moving on, their time at Conard is certainly fundamental, as her time teaching there has provided useful insight. 

With that, she dove into six critical things people at Conard have taught her – urging members of the Class of 2022 to be enthusiastic, hold on to their childhood wonder, stay steadfast to one’s community, trade smiles, stand up for what’s right, and have hope. She related all these points back to the tight-knit Conard community, and the potential that each graduating senior has.  

Puchalski-Piretti ended with an ask: “Conard Class of 2022: be good, be kind, be useful, be fearless.” This ask was a nod to the fact that these graduates are the future. They are the ones who will lead the world. They are, in Puchalski-Piretti’s words, “our embodiment of HOPE.”

To end the ceremony, the names were read, the diplomas were handed out, the tassels were flipped, and the caps were tossed. Conard’s class of 2022 has officially graduated, and they’re off to shake up the world. 

A complete list of the Conard Class of 2022 can be found below the photos.

Congrats to the @ConardCHS Class of 2022!! #WestHartford #WeHa pic.twitter.com/Xl2gqRBPGf

— We-Ha.Com (@WeHartford) June 14, 2022

Principal Jamahl Hines and faculty speaker Ramona Puchalski-Piretti process onto the field. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Assistant Principal Lindsay Tringalli served as emcee. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Senior choir members. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Former Conard Principal, Julio Duarte, now the executive director of Human Resources for the district, pronounced the Class of 2022 graduated. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Principal Jamahl Hines with his mother (second from right), his daughter, and his wife. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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Conard High School Class of 2022: