Taunton High graduates celebrate new beginnings

TAUNTON — They saved the biggest for last.

High school graduation ceremonies in the Taunton area began on Friday with Coyle and Cassidy High School and culminated Sunday with Taunton High School’s Class of 2019 commencement exercises.

This year’s Taunton High graduating class nearly hit the 500 mark: The total number of graduating seniors numbered 498 — far more than either Coyle and Cassidy, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School or Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School.

Superintendent of Schools John Cabral thanked Taunton High headmaster Matthew Mattos for his hard work.

He also thanked students’ parents for the trust they put in the public school system.

Cabral, who was born in the Azores, Portugal, noted the sacrifice of his immigrant parents in Fall River that resulted in his becoming the first person in his family to attend college.

He also reminded the grads that they should remember their teachers at Taunton High for the support they provided as adult mentors.

Cabral said “friends, family and most importantly your community” from this point on should be the focus in the lives of this year’s graduates.

Mattos praised the Class of 2019 for having exhibited “politeness and respect” during their time at Taunton High, as well as for their achievements in the areas of scholastic endeavors, sports and other after-school activities.

He also noted that two graduates this year had been accepted to Ivy League colleges.

“I am so very proud of all of you,” Mattos said.

Class President Lara Pereira toward the end of her speech became emotional as she referred to the support and friendship extended her by her classmates.

“We are each other’s motivation,” she said. “You all inspire me every day.”

Pereira thanked her parents and noted that she will be the first person in her family to attend college in the United States.

Valedictorian Gage Kingman, who is headed to Harvard College where he will study computer science, said the Class of 2019 is leaving “a lasting message for generations to come.”

Salutatorian Michael Quinn said that he interprets true success in life as “the passion you develop every day in what you do.”

And School Committee member Cathal O’Brien encouraged this year’s graduates to not be discouraged by the occasional failure one encounters as an adult.

“There will be obstacles. But it’s no big deal, it’s no stress,” O’Brien said.

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr., who also addressed Friday’s Coyle and Cassidy graduation ceremony, congratulated the graduates and wished them well.

“Education is a dress rehearsal for the life you’re about to lead,” Hoye said.

At one point during the speech by headmaster Mattos, a bit of pre-arranged levity ensued — as Josh Taylor walked down the center aisle toward the stage with cordless microphone in hand, while wearing a gold crown, checkerboard shorts and shirt and a short black cape.

Taylor, who engaged in banter with Mattos and sang along to the Green Day song “Good Riddance,” was the winner of this year’s Mr. THS, a mock pageant that spoofs traditional women’s beauty and talent contests.

This year’s commencement exercises once again drew an overflow crowd, with people who could not get a seat on bleachers sitting on folded chairs in the back of the gym.

The weather was muggy, and many in the crowd could be seen fanning themselves with their cardboard programs.

Each graduating senior was allotted four tickets to distribute as they chose.

Saturday's event was filmed by students enrolled in the school's broadcasting program and was transmitted live on local, cable TV public-access channels Comcast 9 and Verizon 23.