UnTil Next Time, Class of '24 Commencement Ceremonies for the Class of 2024

On Saturday, June 8, the class of 2024 held their commencement ceremony at Moorestown Friends School. The students were accompanied by friends, family, and MFS faculty members the entire evening to celebrate their graduation.

Before commencement ceremonies began, students gathered in surrounding areas of the Stokes Hall Courtyard to take photos with peers and teachers. The class of 2024 then filed onto the stairs to take their final class photo, and finished by throwing decorated graduation caps off the stairs in celebration.

Moments before

Photo by Anjali Shah '26

Prior to June 8, the senior class gathered together to create graduation caps to throw in celebration on Commencement day.

Photo by Anjali Shah '26

This year, the Class of '24 decided to include graduation caps to pose and throw for pre-commencement photos. Graduation caps and gowns are not traditionally present at Commencement Day due to not adhering to Quaker values. According to Alicia Leung '24, senior class president, the initial idea was to wear caps and toss them at the end of commencement. However, the administration stated that it did not follow Quaker traditions, but compromised to have the caps used for photos. The class officers purchased the caps and provided materials for students to decorate during Senior Week. This resulted in many decorated caps that showcased each student's creativity, identity, and future.

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Photo by Chloe Marshall '26

The WordsWorth staff asked students from the Class of 2024 what they will miss the most from their Moorestown Friends School experience.

Photo by Chloe Marshall '26

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

MFS originals

Students who have been attending MFS since Preschool, Prekindergarten, Kindergarten, or First Grade were recognized as "Originals".

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

The WordsWorth staff asked Upper School faculty what they will miss most from the class of 2024 as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Beginning of the end

Students prepared in the halls of the senior benches to begin their commencement and waited for their turn to walk outside.

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Students walked down the oval stairs in pairs with some choosing to hold posters, balloons, photos, etc. to celebrate the occasion. Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

As the students made their way to their seats at the ceremony, meaningful songs chosen by the class of 2024 played in the background to commemorate their high school journey.

Photos by Sophia Lalani '25

"Good Old Days" by Macklemore

All the love you won't forget

And all these reckless nights you won't regret

'Cause someday soon, your whole life's gonna change

You'll miss the magic of the good old days

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

Drench yourself in words unspoken

Live your life with arms wide open

Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten

"Vida la Vida" by Coldplay

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning, I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

"Moment 4 Life" by Nicki Minaj

I wish that I could have this moment for life

For life, for life

'Cause in this moment, I just feel so alive

Alive, alive

"Vienna" by Billy Joel

And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through

Why don't you realize, Vienna waits for you?

The Ceremony

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

School Committee Clerk Ivy Brown began the ceremony with a reading. Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Head of School - Julia de la Torre

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Head of School Julia de la Torre greeted the class of 2024 and their supporting family and friends with opening remarks.

One last time

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

The class of 2024 selected student speakers Alicia Leung '24 and Dinah Megibow-Taylor '24 to represent the class of 2024. Both speakers touched on past memories of their years at MFS and future wishes for the class of 2024 to achieve beyond their high school careers.

Alicia Leung

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Dinah Megibow-Taylor

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Yilin Huang

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Yilin Huang '24 played musical selection "Melodie" by Tchaikovsky on the violin as a final instrumental performance for the graduating class.

Upper School Director - Noah Rachlin

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Chosen by the class of 2024 as the faculty speaker, Upper School Director Noah Rachlin touched on the metaphorical ways graduating seniors would likely never change the world, but could change a world.

Awarding of Diplomas

Photo by Aashi Reddy '26

One by one, students walked to receive their diplomas from Head of School Julia de la Torre after hearing their name read by Upper School Director Noah Rachlin. Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Goodbye, MFS!

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

After the entire class received their diplomas, the class of 2024 walked off the risers. They were met with cheers and applause by their classmates, family, and friends.

Photos by Emmie Huynh '27

The graduating class spent time with their relatives and friends in the oval after the ceremony before making their way to the Dining Hall Commons for the reception. Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

As the class of 2024 walked to greet their family and friends after the ceremony, the songs "Night Changes" by One Direction and "Long Live" by Taylor Swift played in the background as recessional music.

Photo by Sophia Lalani '25

Photo by Emmie Huynh '27

Photo by Aashi Reddy '26

Multimedia Production by Emmie Huynh '27 / MFSWordsWorth Features Editor and Livia Kam '26 / MFSWordsWorth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Blog

Photos by Emmie Huynh '27, Sophia Lalani '25 / MFSWordsWorth Editor-In-Chief, Chloe Marshall '26 / MFSWordsWorth Art Director, Aashi Reddy '26 / MFSWordsWorth Staff Writer, and Anjali Shah '26 / MFSWordsWorth Staff Writer

Reporting by Livia Kam '26, Zaydan Lalani '26 / MFSWordsWorth Associate Editor-In-Chief of Multimedia, and Anjali Shah '26

Drone Footage by Vikram Verma '25 / MFSWordsWorth Podcast Producer, News App Director