Riverdale celebrated significant milestones for the Classes of 2025, 2029, and 2032, with joyous gatherings filled with love and support from family and friends. These events highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of the students on their academic journeys.
Head of School Kari Ostrem addressed the Class of 2025, encouraging them to embrace the skills they’ve acquired at Riverdale. She stated, “Riverdale doesn’t give you a specific route to follow. What we want is that you take with you a set of skills that allow you to enjoy life, to ask questions, to be open to changes, and ultimately make your own map.”
At the Lower School Moving On Ceremony, Amanda Chen ’25 shared valuable advice with the rising sixth graders, encouraging them to carry lessons learned on the playground into Middle School. “It only gets better from here. Middle School won’t always have as many instructions, but you can still bring that same energy,” she said. She urged the Lower School graduates to hold onto their sense of wonder, saying, “Even as you get older, that spark, that ability to dream, to create, to believe that anything is possible, that’s what will help you solve problems, start projects, lead others, bring people together, and change the world.”
Associate Head of School and Head of Lower School James Duval thanked the students for being part of the Lower School community, stating, “We could not be more grateful and proud of each and every one of you. When I look at all of your faces again… I can really think about the incredible growth that all of you have made during this fifth-grade year. You have really left such an incredible mark on this campus and on our school, and we just cannot wait to hear and see all the remarkable things that you do in the future.”
At the Middle School Graduation Ceremony, Assistant Head of School for School Life and Head of Middle School Milton Sipp celebrated the rising ninth-grade class, saying, “Today, we want to celebrate who you are becoming, people who choose kindness not because it’s required but because of who they are. People who do not do good just for recognition, but because, in doing it, it’s the right thing to do.” He emphasized that embodying these principles would help fulfill the school’s mission of changing the world for the good.
Eighth Grade Dean Monika Le shared “10 Things I Appreciate About You,” highlighting students’ warmth, critical thinking, and willingness to take risks and explore new opportunities. The graduation also included cherished traditions, including the presentation of a tile designed by Jolie Browne, symbolizing her class’s Middle School experience.
At the Class of 2025 Graduation, faculty speaker Johnny Hager encouraged students to embrace change while honoring their own identities. Patrick Steel ’85, former CEO of POLITICO, echoed this message with reflections from his time at Riverdale. He recalled how the Integrated Liberal Studies course, more than any other in a lifetime of learning, taught him to “think, to solve problems, to adapt, to evolve and change.” He stressed the importance of balance in leading a fulfilling life, urging graduates to use the tools they gained at Riverdale to “examine the history you’ve inherited and provide you with the tools to chart your own path. You are free thinkers now. Now, you get to make your own history. You already make your own decisions. Riverdale has given you this strong foundation and the confidence to navigate a dramatically changing world.”
Continuing the theme of looking ahead, seniors closed their ceremony with a rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Circle Game,” which thoughtfully explores youth, the passage of time, and life’s cyclical nature.
Congratulations to all students, and thank you to families, friends, faculty, and staff who played a vital role in making these moments possible.
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