Celebrating the “Magic” of the Class of 2019

On June 11, 2019, Winsor celebrated the 65 graduates of the Class of 2019. The joyful morning featured beautiful music, heartfelt tributes and wise words, including an address by Winsor’s 125th Commencement speaker, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

Attorney General Maura Healey congratulated the “fighters” of the Class of 2019—referring to their class nickname—who are “already changing the world” with their strength, power, and grace.

“You’re part of a generation of women, young people, who have power, and who have a voice,” she told the seniors. “But my challenge to you this morning is how do you continue to impact the world with your voice, and how are you going to empower others to find and use theirs?”

The graduating Class of 2019 not only absorbed wise words from Attorney General Healey, but also from Head of School Sarah Pelmas, Allison Kaneb Pellegrino ’89, P’21, ’22, president of the Winsor Corporation, and from their classmates.

Ms. Pellegrino shared one of her favorite children’s books, “The Little House,” by Virginia Lee Burton, and noted the enduring lessons of the book that mirror Winsor’s own history. In the book, the little house’s family took care of it through the generations as the city moved closer and grew up around it. “It’s our responsibility to take care of Winsor so that it’s always here for you, and for me, and for many, many girls to follow. We want to be sure to preserve her story for the girls who come after us.”

“Winsor will be here for you whenever you need it,” added Ms. Pellegrino. “Rest assured that Winsor alumnae, committed and loyal parents and past parents and faculty will all be here taking care of Winsor for you while you’re away. You are now a part of the fabric of the school in a new and different way. Who you are as people while shine as an example for the next generation of students, giving back to this community of women in new and unexpected ways.”

The program opened with a reading by Leslie Moukheiber ’19 from the animated movie “Winnie the Pooh,” based on the original book by A. A. Milne.

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.

“Yes, Piglet?”

“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”

“We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. Even longer,’ Pooh answered.”

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always

remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than

you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with

you.”

Senior class president Chloe Duval thanked her classmates before introducing Winsor’s Commencement speaker, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. To her “siblings,” the Class of 2019, “I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today without you guys, so thank you.”

“Many of you know us as the ‘F19HTERS,’ so for our graduation speaker we chose someone who fights for all of us, each and every day,” said Chloe. “She has fought, is fighting, and will continue to fight for all of Massachusetts.”

Attorney General Healey urged the graduating seniors to use their voices to empower other women, and to continue their generation’s already powerful work toward social change. “Remember the lessons of those who came before you and set the example for those who follow,” she said. “Share your voice but also your energy, your talents, your passion. Remember—you want to be exceptional, but not the exception.”

Attorney General Healey noted the white dresses worn by the Class of 2019, which brought to her mind the suffragettes on the 100th anniversary of the suffragette movement. The red roses the seniors carried reminded her of “love for oneself, which you must maintain fiercely. And your love for one another.”

“Here at Winsor, you have been one another’s greatest champions, greatest supporters. That doesn’t need to stop when you leave—in fact, it can’t. Continue to support each other. Continue to stay in touch. Continue to champion each other. And also, find women and people who support women to champion.”

In keeping with the senior class’ theme of time travel, Ms. Pelmas noted that if we were to time travel 100 years into the past, we would find ourselves back at the ratification of the 19th Amendment. “It seems to me such a great moment to look at with you because it is a symbol of women getting their voices structurally, within the fiber of our government. If Winsor wants anything at all for you, it is that you speak your mind whenever and wherever you want, that you stand up for what matters in the face of any opposition, and that you see yourselves on equal footing with anyone you meet.”

Ms. Pelmas recalled the many moments over the past year in which members of the Class of 2019 demonstrated their vast leadership qualities. “You are people who know what is right; you act with integrity even when no one is watching. You think about the greater good first. You know that your worries are just worries and you put them in their place–they don’t go away, but you know how to manage them and move ahead with the important work you have to do. You have been doing it all year, and you have led this school with flair and compassion and a wonderful sense of humor.”

To the laughter and applause of those gathered within the tent, senior class speaker Lydia Broderick praised her classmates for the culture they created of “being giving, caring and open.” Throughout her humorous remarks, she attempted to capture the spirit of her class for, as she explained, “only the 65 of us know what it’s truly like to be us.”

Lydia described the seniors’ culture of “casual kindness” as the “magic” of the Class of 2019, and something that changed the way she saw herself. “Seeing how my classmates acted immediately changed the way I thought about myself and my potential to be a meaningful part of a community.”

“Words cannot express how much I will miss seeing you all every day,” Lydia told her classmates. “I love you, I’m proud of you, and I can’t wait to see who you become.”