Mr. Devine's Remarks Concerning the Opening of School and the Graduation of Mr. Stanley Gould

This morning at Hull High School we began our school year with our traditional all-school assembly.  Today's assembly was unique from past years, because we posthumously awarded a Hull High School diploma to the family of World War II veteran Mr. Stanley Gould.  As always our students were gracious and respectful during the assembly.  It was a powerful way to start our school year and we felt we should share the remarks from the event with the community.

Hull High School

Opening Remarks

August 29, 2011

Good morning and welcome to the Hull High School 2011-2012 school-year.  Please join me in welcoming Sam Campbell, Junior Class president, who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

To start us off this year, I would like to introduce the President of the Class of 2012, Becca Garber.

At the start of each school year, we pull together as a community to celebrate a new beginning.  Today, as we do this, we will also look back more than 65 years to honor a man who, although gone for 20 years, is someone from whom we can still learn a great deal.  Before we get started, I want to take a few minutes to introduce some special guests that we have with us today.  Seated with me on the stage today are:

• Our superintendent of School, Dr. Tyrell
• The Vice Chair of the Hull School Committee, Mrs. Marianne Harte
• The Secretary of the Hull School Committee, Mr. David Twombly
• Hull School Committee member, Mr. Eric Hipp

Also joining us today is our Town Manager, Mr. Lemnios, and representing the Hull Veterans’ Council, Mr. Paul Dunphy.

Because this is our opening meeting, it has become our tradition to introduce to you our new staff.  They are:

• Our new English teacher – Ms. Carew
• Teaching Spanish – Mr. Eaton
• Also teaching Spanish – Ms. Wescott
• Taking the reigns this year of our music program – Mr. Gasaway
• And, joining us in the Special Education department – Mr. Zuccaro

I also want to take this time to either introduce – or reintroduce – some of the familiar faces that you will be working with this year.

• The first face you see when you enter Hull High School, woman who runs the main office, and really, our whole school – Mrs. Powers
• We all know this next guy – our Athletic Director and Coordinator of Community Outreach – Mr. Quatromoni
• In guidance – the friendliest secretary I know – Mrs. Troy
• Our two guidance counselors – who have worked hard all summer taking care of advisory, schedules, lockers and so much more – Ms. Vaughan and Mrs. LaVigne
• He worked all summer getting our building looking as clean as it does today – Mr. Campbell
• And, to say a few things about how our day will run today, your favorite assistant principal and mine – Mr. Sivo

Freshmen – welcome to Hull High School.  To quote that great American philosopher, Ferris Bueller, “Life goes by pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you will miss it.”  You are just starting the four-year adventure called high school.  Work hard, study, do that homework, learn all you can, and don’t forget to look around every once and a while and savor this experience.  Some never have it.

Sophomores – MCAS year for you.  Listen to your teachers – they know what they are talking about – and our school has the scores to prove it.  And remember, only 12 months ago you were that freshman getting lost on the first day of school.  Be nice!

Juniors – Congratulations.  I can’t share the details with you, but last year, you earned some of the best MCAS scores that Hull High School has ever seen.  Your scores – amazing.  Your growth – even more impressive.  When I can release the scores – we will pull together again to celebrate, but know that a celebration, one that you earned, is coming soon.  Great job.

Class of 2012 – seniors – welcome to your last first day of school in Hull.  No matter what you do next year, serve in the military, go to college, join the workforce – I know you won’t be here at Hull HS next year.  Enjoy this year.  There will be times that it is not too much fun, but this is a year you will never forget.  Remember – no second chances.  This is it.

Now, the reason that our guests are here today.  Here at Hull High School, we value creativity, citizenship, integrity, life-long learning, responsibility and service.  Mr. Stanley Gould embodied all of our core values.  Stanley Gould was 17 years old when he dropped out of Hingham High School.  At the time, Hull did not have its own high school, so this towns high school students went to Hingham.  Why did he drop out?  It was 1943 and Stanley Gould joined the millions of young American men and woman fighting against the Axis powers in World War II.  Born and raised here in Hull, Mr. Gould was the youngest of 6 children, and he was called to service not only because he believed in fighting tyranny, but because his father was ill, and there was nobody else to support his family.  He joined the United States Navy, served in the North Atlantic, in the Pacific, and took part in the occupation of Japan.  And, every time he got paid, he sent that money home to his mother and father.  After the war, Mr. Gould returned to Hull, married, and raised a family.  He constantly reminded them, through his words and actions, that family, country, community, and education, were the most important things in life.  Mr. Gould served our community as a building inspector, police officer, committee member, and giving citizen.  Mr. Gould died 20 years ago without ever receiving a high school diploma.  That changes today.  Because of his service to our community and our country, because of the value that he placed on education, because of his humility and belief in the good of life, and because of his unwillingness to complain and his willingness to see the positive and try to make our town and our world a better place, it is my honor to recommend to Superintendent Tyrell that Stanley J. Gould be awarded a Hull High School diploma.

I now call the Vice Chair of the Hull School Committee, Mrs. Marianne Harte to the podium to posthumously award a Hull High School diploma to Mr. Stanley J. Gould.  Accepting this diploma on his father’s behalf will be Mr.  Gerald Gould.

As we all go through this year, let us remember Mr. Gould’s example.  Take every opportunity you have to learn, to serve others, to see the positive in all around you, and to make the most of this precious life you have been given.

Welcome back, let’s have a great year.