Hats off to all Paterson graduates of 2021 | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Hats off to all Paterson graduates of 2021

By Corey Teague
Published: June 30, 2021

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I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our bright students on completing their high school experience. In fact, I want to congratulate all of our students who are moving up this year.

To say that the 2020-2021 school year was a challenge would be an understatement. This academic year was chock full of obstacles and barriers designed to discourage but instead it had the exact opposite effect.

This school year pushed us to our limits and sometimes, beyond our limits which was designed to stop us but instead it had the exact opposite effect

This school year changed our schedules on a massive scale forcing us to adjust how we would normally operate. This school year forced us to travel uncharted territory. It was designed for no us to give up and accept defeat but instead it had the exact opposite effect.

Instead of discouraging us, it encouraged us. Instead of stopping us, it made us go even harder. Instead of giving up and accepting defeat we buckled down, tied up our laces, braced ourselves, persevered and won.

This year wasn’t easy by a long shot, but in looking back in retrospect, it was necessary to show just how resilient we are as a school district. OUR COMEBACK GAME IS SERIOUS!

To our teachers, thank you for your willingness to work together with the district with the aim of making sure our children remained first priority. Thank you for seamlessly taking on and crushing the new normal by teaching remotely. As you prepare to fully return to in person learning in September 2021 know that the district will continue to keep our students first.

And yes, we did have some bumps in the road. Like in any relationship, there were disagreements and misunderstandings to boot.

Despite the ever present differences of opinion, the constant false narratives and at times what appeared to be deliberate actions to make the district look bad, we all persevered.

The good outweighed the bad, the light outweighed the darkness, the truth outweighed the lies. As we prepare to take a much needed respite for the summer let us remember to remain vigilant as September 2021 will be upon us before we know it.

Just as we pushed through in 2021 we will do the same in 2022 and beyond. Congratulations once again to the graduating class of 2021 and to the students who moved up this year.

You should most proud of yourselves. I am certainly proud of you.

Written by Corey Teague, a member of the Board of Education.


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