Tiger Pride: Newton North graduation celebrates human connection

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Class of 2025 graduate Nadia Belfort smiles to the crowds as she walks to get her diploma on June 11, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

“Let’s hear it for the Class of 2025!” Principal Henry Turner cheered to start Newton North’s 165^th graduation ceremony on Wednesday.

“You can cheer as much as you want today,” Turner said. “Each of you has walked your own path to reach this important milestone. Individually and as a class, you have contributed a great deal to the Newton North community.”

Turner commended the graduates on showing “what Tiger pride looks like” and told them to stay connected after high school and form meaningful relationships out in the world.

In fact, the central theme of the ceremony revolved around creating and keeping healthy connections—an idea that may come in handy especially in these uncertain, tumultuous times—throughout life.

Turner drove that point home by describing how he met his wife, Sara, as a student at UMass. She was a member of the school’s swim team.

“Sara came to UMass as a top recruit in swimming and water polo, and when she got there, I found her very annoying,” Turner mused. “She couldn’t stand me either. And this went on for about a year and a half.”

Turner, who was on the men’s swim team, challenged them to a water polo match. He and Sara made a bet that if he scored on her, she’d make him dinner, and if he didn’t, he’d make her dinner.

He didn’t score, so he made her dinner.

“That night, for the first time, we saw each other differently—no teams, no competitions, just two people being vulnerable, silly and human,” he said.

Principal Henry Turner speaks at Newton North High School’s 2025 graduation ceremony on June 11. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

The rain that has dominated the past month took a break to give the Tigers a sunny, warm send off, which Superintendent Anna Nolin told the graduates they deserved.

“We are so proud of you,” Nolin said. “You have shown us what excellence looks like, not only classrooms and competitions, but in creativity, resilience and care for one another.”

Nolin urged them to stay connected with each other and the school as they build their lives in the coming years.

“There’s no network like a Newton Network,” she said.

Class President Jacob Wu was the first person at graduation to mention last year’s teacher strike.

“Traditionally, as the senior class president, I should be giving out some long, drawn-out cliché speech right now, but in honor of the unprompted two-week break last year, I too will also be cutting my time short,” Wu joked.

Wu presented the class gift: several custom Newton North banners and flags that will wave along Tiger Drive and the Dickerson Stadium.

He then moved on to the senior tribute, The Class of 2025 honored Barry House executive assistant Eileen Perruzzi, who Wu described as “someone whose daily presence makes Newton North feel like a second home.”

“Ms. Perruzzi, your unlimited supply of mints, endless patience for every minute update in our lives and tireless commitment to us have genuinely made every day brighter, and these moments will forever be ingrained into the fabric of our class,” Wu said.

Newton North Class of 2025 President Jacob Wu speaks at his graduation ceremony on June 11, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Perruzzi spoke as well, holding back tears of gratitude as she accepted the honor.

“I’ve had a front row seat watching your growth firsthand for the last four years,” she said. “From friendship squabbles to complicated family situations, losing close loved ones, dealing with unimaginable illnesses, you have all persevered so much.

“It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon for good times, and there have been so many, from class celebrations to sporting events, theater shows and so many more,” Perruzzi continued. “But through those good times, you’ve shown unwavering support for your classmates, whether it be accompanying a friend through tough times or reporting sensitive issues.”

This year’s designated student speaker was Reven McBride, who studied TV production in the school’s Career and Technical Education program.

“When I think about high school, I don’t remember just the crazy things that happened—mostly in Freshman year—or the big milestones. I remember the ordinary moments. The human moments. The quiet moments in the building when that building was half asleep. The group chats that were supposed to be about homework but quickly turned into memes. The times we stayed way too long after school just talking in the parking lot, not wanting the day to end. The anxious excitement before opening the grades portal and the shared relief—or shared panic—that followed.

“These small moments were the building blocks of something much bigger: the friendships, the lessons and the growth we didn’t even realize was happening,” McBride continued.

Raven MacBride speaks at her graduation on June 11, 2025. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

English teacher Pamela Pistiner, the evening’s final speaker, left the Class of 2025 with some advice.

There’s an old Yiddish saying that goes, “Man plans and God laughs,'” Pistiner said. “Your most carefully laid plans are going to veer off course. But, sometimes it’s worth it to pivot, to explore or even completely abandon the original plan. What was your favorite game to play during elementary school recess became reminiscing about Foursquare on the playground and having a profound appreciation for the innocence of childhood. Don’t be afraid to change your destination and to really take the time to get there. It is often in those moments that the real magic happens.”