Greenport High School graduated its Class of 2015 — 59 members strong — in ceremonies in the high school auditorium this afternoon.
The graduates got a surprise send-off when retired social studies studies teacher Ron MacEvoy rode his bicycle into the auditorium and took the stage to give the commencement address.
The seniors on stage and members of the audience alike whooped and cheered when principal Gary Kalish introduced the guest speaker for the school’s 134th commencement exercises.
MacEvoy had the class and the audience in stitches for most of his irreverent speech, in which he poked fun at everything from kids’ cell phone use to the Common Core Curriculum.
“This is the first time I addressed this class when they weren’t texting,” he said. He called cell phones “the only reason I’m glad I retired” and gave his former students advice on how to text in class less conspicuously.
“First of all, sit behind Willie,” MacEvoy said, pointing to the 6-1, 280-pound football star. “I ain’t gonna see a damned thing when you sit behind Willie.”
MacEvoy even poked fun at Greenport’s new Schools Superintendent David Gamberg, who also serves as Southold’s superintendent.
“He was recently diagnosed as havng bipolar disporder,” MacEvoy joked. “When he’s in Greenport he’s very excited, manic and very happy. Then he goes back to Southold and he’s depressed. I’m just kidding. Is he laughing?” MacEvoy asked the audience, feigning concern. “Oh wait a minute I forgot! I don’t work here any more!”
MacEvoy said he “had a tough time trying to learn how to teach kids from different cultures. Eventually I learned how to handle kids from East Marion and Orient,” he said to laughter and applause.
He railed against the Common Core and high-stakes testing in elementary schools.
“Let’s let kids be children in elementary schools,” he said.
“Tests in high school are different. They’re needed. But not the tests we’re giving,” he said. “It would be more practical to give urine tests than the tests we’re giving. We’d get more positive results and the data could be used for more important things.”
MacEvoy struck a serious chord before taking his leave.
“Do something you really want to do, something you have a passion for,” he told the graduates.
“And I want you to be a little selfish. Take care of yourself and your family,” he advised. “If you do that you’ll be happy. If you’re happy you’ll be successful. If you’re succesful it will spread out like a dominio effect through all society.”
Catherine Creedon, Samantha Henry, Caitlin Grilli and Neville Reese were the commencement ceremonies’ student speakers.
After diplomas were awarded, presented by school board president Daniel Creedon and board member Kirsten Droskoski, salutatorian Christian Van Cleef and valedictorian Connor Whittle gave their commencement addresses.
Whittle, who celebrated his 18th birthday today, said graduation is a time of mixed emotions. Reflecting on relationships with classmates that started in kindergarten, he said found himself wishing his time in Greenport wasn’t over.
“But dont cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened,” he told his classmates. “Remember it’s really not the end, it’s a new beginning.”
He closed with a quote from Dr. Seuss:
Today was good.
Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one.
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl and Denise Civiletti
