Gallery • 15 Photos

Kate Plows

Brett Eisenmann (8) high-fives high school Principal Mr. Andrew Benzing as he leads the Class of 2030 across the bridge and into the high school at the Bridge Crossing Ceremony on June 11.

Haven students and staff cheered with eighth graders’ parents and families as the Class of 2030 walked across the Providence Road bridge to the high school, marking a milestone at the end of their middle school journey. Many tapped the panther statue in the front lobby for good luck.

The Bridge Crossing was followed by an awards ceremony in the high school auditorium, where the eighth graders are introduced to high school staff members and middle school teachers honor stand-out students with accolades.  

The bridge crossing ceremony is typically celebrated on the high school’s make-up finals day, when most teachers and current high school students are free to participate. This year, because of the extra day added to the school calendar due to snow closures, the ceremony ran at the same time as third and fourth block finals. Finals took priority, so the crowd of cheering high school teachers and students was a bit smaller than usual.

The unique-to-Haven ceremony brings about varying emotions in the eighth grade class as they prepare to start a new chapter in their lives.

“Initially, when I crossed the bridge, I was very excited because I was with my friends, but then it was also really nervous and just like, ‘I’m so unsure what’s going to happen in high school,’ so yeah — that’s why I’m a little bit nervous,” incoming freshman Calleigh Chwastyk said.

Incoming freshman Lola Bahodirova, who won the eighth grade citizenship award, felt a mixture of pride and bittersweet emotions as she crossed the bridge.

“I feel like seeing all my teachers from previous years made me tear up and realize how much I have grown, and made me very sad,” Bahodirova said.

For many, the bridge crossing is a family affair. Countless family members lined the Providence Road entrance pavement to watch. Recent graduate Giana Gliko ‘26 returned to play the cymbals in the drumline for a chance to see her sister cross the bridge — and close out her career at Haven.

“It was also just really special because it was my last hurrah with drumline,” Gliko said. “For everybody it ends in the fall, but for me it got to be the last thing I do here, which is really special.”

To close out the awards ceremony, middle school principal Dr. Chris Matsanka expressed his gratitude for being able to work with the class of 2030, reminiscing on their middle school orientation with the reflection “I remember instantly knowing I was getting a great group of students.”

He also used a metaphor of comparing school to a fishbowl, encouraging the class to “just keep swimming” as they enter high school. Many eighth graders are excited to do just that, including incoming freshman Sophie Shore.

“I’m excited for [being on] danceline, and meeting new friends,” she said.