Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion graduates its second class.

A side note: This blog depends to a great extent on the reporting done by local newspapers across the nation, which tell the stories of their communities, schools and issues better than any other source. That’s one reason I always link to the stories rather than posting whole – it’s not only the right thing to do, but also insures they get the ad revenue that supports their work.

After the horrific shooting at The Capital Gazette in Maryland last week, let me take this moment to urge you to subscribe, in print if you can, to your local newspaper. Support the journalists who make tiny salaries finding out what’s happening in your town and making sure that nothing is hidden and things don’t happen behind closed doors.

Even if you don’t read it every day, it’s worth it. Our children are likely the last generation that will grow up with printed newspapers – get them into the news-reading habit now. Don’t let them be like the high school student I recently met who, seeing the stack of newspapers in front of me, said “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever actually held a printed newspaper before. I just read everything on Instagram.”

By REBECCA MULLEN
For the Daily Hampshire Gazette

HADLEY — “I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that you are all extraordinary,” faculty speaker Bruce Rubin said in his address to the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School’s Class of 2018.

Of the 11 graduates, 10 were International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates, four were National Honor Society members and all will go on to pursue higher education.

The Class of 2018 was the second class to graduate from PVCICS, a K-12 charter school which opened in the fall 2007. Classes are taught in both English and Mandarin. The graduation was held Friday evening in the school’s gymnasium.

Rubin’s speech highlighted the ways the students had pushed the envelope over the course of their education.

“You are not afraid to challenge orthodoxy and authority,” Rubin said to the class. “‘Just because’ is not a response that you are willing to accept.”

Please read more here.