Students and families celebrated the 137th Commencement and the Lower and Middle Schools’ moving up ceremonies.

Under a hot spring sun and the forever blue of the sky, the Class of 2025 processed through campus for the final time today, a world of possibilities ahead of them.

“What knowledge do you have now that will be reshaped by discoveries yet to come? What role might you play in the tapestry of knowledge? What might you uncover in your search for knowledge to make us all reevaluate what we think we know today?” Commencement Speaker Andrea Razzaghi ’78 asked the class. Director of the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Razzaghi talked about the incredible discoveries scientists have made over the centuries—from learning that the world is round to the first discoveries that there may be life that did not originate on Earth, but on other planets outside our solar system. She added, “We are continually humbled by the evolving state of knowing. …We build bridges from past knowledge to the knowledge of today and pave the way for the knowledge of tomorrow.” She encouraged the graduates to do the same.

Continuing the themes of being life-long learners, explorers of knowledge, and darers to love even in the face of challenge, Head of School Bryan Garman said to the graduates, “You are distinguished because I have never before been so worried about the world into which we are sending a graduating class, and, at the same time, I have never been more confident that your character positions you to make a positive impact on that world. I want to thank the Class of 2025 for accepting the beautifully complex invitation that comes with Quaker education and to remind you of the remarkable possibility—and responsibility—that comes with it.”

The Class of 2025 weren’t the only Sidwell Friends students moving on. On Friday morning, the 4th graders (the Class of 2033) celebrated their transition from Lower School to Middle School in a fun-filled ceremony. Lower School Principal Adele Paynter praised the students on how deeply they care about their learning, each other, and the world. She also noted with joy how students throughout the Lower School modeled and believed that “the coolest thing is to be fully yourself.”

The day before, the 8th graders (the Class of 2029) excitedly marked their move from Middle School to Upper School. Students reflected on their journey through Middle School—from developing resilience and learning to find hope and happiness during difficult times like the pandemic to understanding that success isn’t about being perfect—it’s about growing, asking questions, and never being afraid to learn something new. Middle School Principal Rachel Kane commended the 8th graders’ success and offered some sage advice: “As you go forward, bring the joy and love you have for each other in everything you do. Find the line between being taken seriously and taking yourself too seriously. And even as you get older and more independent, hold onto moments like these: moments that remind you that you are never alone, because you are surrounded by friends, family, teachers, and coaches, a community filled with love for you, a group of people who will always be in your corner when you need them.”

As the Class of 2025 recessed out of Pearson Athletic Center and into the world, there was a palpable sense of joy, pride, and possibility. For many, Razzaghi’s words may still have echoed in their minds: “As you move on to the next phase in your journey, as you cross into your own personal interstellar space, know when to be less certain and when to be more curious, carry the light of the special Sidwell community wherever you go, and every now and then, delight in proving yourself wrong!”