And Lovely Is The Rose: The Graduating Class of 2011

The Ridgewood High School Class of 2011 tossed rose buds into the air and exited amidst cheers, smiles and goodbyes. While may have caused major logistical issues, the ceremony appeared to go off without a hitch.

Crowds packed every crevice on the RHS front lawn and spilled onto Heermance and the football field to watch the graduates file through, male and female, arm-in-arm, diplomas soon in hand.

Principal Jack Lorenz kicked off the ceremony, thanking those who turned out for rolling with the punches. The principal was soon joined by some of the best and brightest in the graduating class.

Timothy Cox, President of the Student Congress, told his fellow grads that the tight-knit group need only look to their left or right to find a friend. "No matter what your past has been," the student said, "your fortune is spotless."

Cox also asked that the class keep in their hearts and minds the memory of Caitlin Alvaro, who passed away in 2010.

President of the Class of 2011, Chandler Park, is not a Ridgewood native. But in his two years since moving from California, he's grown to love the vibrant village after initial cold feet–literally.

"Moving to Ridgewood was a blessing in disguise," the departing senior said. Park arrived to snow shoveling, flip flops and frozen feet but left having conquered challenges.

They won't be the only ones on the horizon, he said. Not for him or his fellow grads in shimmering white dresses or classy white suits. There's laundry to do and difficult classes to take. But they'll remember June 23, 2011, the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

After the prestigious Somerville Awards were handed out to Cara DiMino and Jon Palumbo, singer Allison Marra sang "Astonishing" to a roaring collection of RHS friends and family.

Male students shook the hands of Dr. Daniel Fishbein, superintendent of schools, and female students Michele Lenhard, school board president, before embracing.

What started as a gray, stormy day of chaos ended with a flickering of rose petals above a sea of white and joyous accompanying screams.

As the William Wordsworth line goes, "the rainbow comes and goes, and lovely is the rose."