MARLBORO — The two middle schools in Marlboro celebrated the students of the eighth grade graduating Class of 2022 on June 17.
The ceremony for the Marlboro Memorial Middle School’s eighth grade class took place at 1 p.m. and the ceremony for the Marlboro Middle School’s eighth grade class took place at 4 p.m., both at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.
The graduating students began their middle school years during the coronavirus pandemic and concluded those years by experiencing a “normal” school year.
Each ceremony featured speakers who reflected on the graduates’ three years in middle school. The speakers included students, Marlboro K-8 School District administrators, Board of Education President Randy Heller and Superintendent of Schools Eric Hibbs.
District administrators said the Marlboro Middle School graduated a class of about 340 students and the Marlboro Memorial Middle School graduated a class of about 270 students.
After Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the order requiring masks to be worn in schools during the pandemic would end on March 7, a majority of schools and students returned to what their educational experience was like before the pandemic.
Hibbs said, “Our graduations were a tremendous tribute to the hard work our students put forth and the exceptional circumstances our students have had to endure and experience.
“It was a tremendous honor to be able to be in-person at Brookdale to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. Over the last three years, their school experience was unlike anything any of us could imagine.
“Each and every student worked hard and persevered through the pandemic. I am so proud of each and every student and wish them well on the next phase of their educational journey,” the superintendent said.