Newport High graduation moves indoors, class celebrates perseverance

Rain sent Newport High School’s Class of 2026 indoors, but it did not soften the sense of occasion inside the Newport Opera House. The district moved the ceremony there after thunderstorms entered the forecast, forcing families to adjust plans at the last minute for the school’s 150th commencement.

The change of venue became part of the story itself. Instead of an open-air celebration, 61 graduates crossed the stage under one of Newport’s most recognizable downtown landmarks, a fitting reminder of how quickly plans can shift and how a class learns to adapt together.

Class president Connor Clark used his remarks to turn that idea into a lesson about the Maine coast trip he took alone and the disappointment that followed when it did not go as planned. What stayed with him, he told classmates, were the small moments that made the experience memorable, a theme that carried through the night as he urged them to value kindness, gratitude and persistence over perfect outcomes.

Salutatorian Erika Roy spoke about teachers as the foundation of education and said she hopes to pursue a career in film so she can inspire future generations. Valedictorian Glory Parker thanked family members and friends who helped carry the class to graduation and encouraged classmates to take chances even when the outcome is uncertain.

The ceremony also featured graduate Aiden Couitt, who sang the National Anthem and Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” giving the evening a reflective tone. Between the music and the speeches, the class left with both a celebration of what it had completed and a reminder of how much of life still depends on stepping forward before every detail is settled.

That message resonated in a year when Newport schools have been navigating more than commencement planning. The Newport School Board placed Superintendent Forrest Ransdell on leave for the remainder of his one-year contract, which expires June 30, and hired Robert Wargo as interim superintendent starting July 1. District figures show about 900 students, 175 full-time employees and 69 part-time employees, a small system where leadership changes and student milestones are felt closely by families across Newport and Sullivan County.

The class’s year also included Senior Awards Night on May 6 and Top Senior Dinner on May 27, adding to a season of recognition that ended with the school’s 150th commencement. For families in Newport, the evening showed a district still producing accomplished graduates and a community still able to gather, adapt and send its seniors forward with support.