On Sunday, November 5, the highly anticipated Junior Ring Ceremony took place in the Moore Pavilion for the Monarchs Class of 2025.
The ceremony is a rite of passage that recognizes juniors as upperclassmen and empowers them to step into the new role, while embracing the challenges and successes that come with it. It is meant to be remembered as a symbol of a student’s academic and personal growth at NDB.
“For me, it really represented the community here and, once again, made me feel really happy to be a part of it,” said junior Emilia Luis.
Students arrived on campus at 9:45 a.m. and proceeded to their assigned classrooms. By 10:20 a.m., they lined up in the hallway of the school entrance and then quietly processed into the Moore Pavilion, wearing their rings on their fingers. Their parents, siblings and other family members sat in the bleachers to watch and support them.
The ceremony was led by Monsignor John Talesfore from St. Matthew Parish. He began by sharing a few jokes and memories from his own high school experience to lighten the mood. Parents laughed and smiled as he spoke.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Head of School Meredith Essalat ‘98, Junior Class President Hailey Degnan and Junior Class Co-Coordinators Kathryn Blanchard and Jonathan Tomczak.
“I think it’s really special that the Monarchs are now upperclassmen, and it’s a recognition of how important they are to our community and how much weight they hold,” said Blanchard.
Essalat spoke about her own experience attending her own ring ceremony as an NDB student with fondness and sentiment. She stressed its importance and spoke about how the juniors have been readily adapting to change and continuing to grow and mature throughout their time at NDB.
During his speech, Tomczak reminisced on watching the Monarchs grow from small and naive freshmen to mature and responsible juniors. He closed the ceremony with words that summarized the ceremony perfectly.
“So, we welcome you to this new chapter of your lives at NDB and beyond, with full belief in your capacity, full trust in your character, and the understanding that all that makes you who you are is unique and stands alone,” said Tomczak.
After the ceremony, juniors and their families were invited to enjoy light refreshments provided by the Epicurean Group outside in the Father Downey Garden. The Monarchs spent the rest of the morning socializing and taking pictures with family and friends, commemorating a tradition they had waited years to experience together.
