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Forty-nine eighth graders from Robert Treat Academy graduated from the Newark charter school Friday during a commencement ceremony at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in front of hundreds of proud parents, siblings and teachers.
The class of 2010 is the sixth to graduate from the K-8 school, which was founded in 1997 by North Ward Center Founder Stephen N. Adubato Sr. as one of the first charter schools in the state.
"Your teachers here, there's a lot of things that they could've done, but they chose to become teachers because what gives them a sense of meaning in their lives is the idea that they may leave a small part of themselves in you to make your lives better," Schundler said. "They feel a sense of happiness in their lives. They can look in the mirror and say they've done something worthwhile"
During the graduation ceremonies, Adubato was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kean University President Dr. Dawood Farahi.
Adubato originally received the degree May 11 during Kean's Nathan Weiss Graduate College commencement, but Dr. Farahi said he wanted to present it again in front of the students because he thought it was important for them to see.
"People who realize other people's dreams wake up in the morning happy,"
Farahi said. "Steve Adubato is that person. He wakes up in the morning, every morning happier when he sees the result of his work"
Adubato said foundation students received at Robert Treat has prepared them to be successful academically.
"Urban minority children can excel in education, the proof is Robert Treat Academy," Adubato said. "In every criteria of measurement, Robert Treat has the highest test scores and our graduates are accepted to the best high schools in America on full scholarships. It is recognized as one of the outstanding urban schools in America. The formula for success is not about money it's about leadership."
Adrianne Davis, the vice president of Robert Treat's board of trustees, said Robert Treat would not be what it is today without Mr. Adubato's vision and leadership.
"Stephen Adubato's most important legacy will be creating a school, where kids from Newark can thrive academically and achieve heights that no one thought possible," Davis said. "If anyone deserves to be recognized for his contributions to Newark, it is Stephen Adubato."
Principal Michael Pallante said graduation is always a day of mixed emotions because students he has known for as long as 9 years are leaving. At the same time, he said, he knows they are ready for the next step in their education.
"Most of our graduates today started with us when they were in kindergarten," said Michael Pallante, who has been the principal for the last 12 years. "It's been wonderful to help them learn and watch them mature. They are well prepared for the future, whatever they may decide to do."
This year's graduates received about $3.3 million in scholarship offers from private high schools.
Among the private boarding schools attended by this year's graduates are: Ethel Walker Academy in Connecticut, St. Paul's School in New Hampshire, Suffield Academy in Connecticut, Episcopal Academy in Virginia and Church Farm School in Pennsylvania.
Private and parochial high schools include St. Benedicts Prep, St. Vincent Academy, Delbarton, Newark Academy, Montclair Kimberly Academy, and Seton Hall Prep, Immaculate Conception, Mt. St. Dominic, St. Mary's, and Christ the King.
Graduates are also attending Newark's magnet high schools, and the county vocational high schools.
"The list of schools these graduates are attending is truly remarkable," Davis said. "It's a sign of how hard they worked during their time at Robert Treat as well as our reputation for providing a rigorous and challenging academic coursework."
With 450 students, Robert Treat has been recognized nationally as a Blue Ribbon School and was among only eight nationwide that were chosen as "high achieving, high poverty" model schools featured on the U.S. Department of Education's web site.
Robert Treat Academy opened a second elementary school on Aug. 10, 2009 in the Central Ward of Newark. Robert Treat Academy-Central started with kindergarten and first grade and will add a grade each year. Robert Treat Academy-Central has 50 students, and by 2016, the school will have 225 students.
Robert Treat's students are selected by lottery, though under state law governing charter schools, siblings of those admitted gain automatic acceptance. The student body is 96 percent minority.
