Sharpsville Area School District

Dear Sharpsville Educational Community:

In the blink of an eye we have come to an end of the 2024-2025 school year.  Our kindergartens have completed their first year of school. Our 5th graders are now ready to take on middle school and our 8th will now have the title of freshman. These are all milestone moments for our students.    It truly takes a village to raise a child.  I would like to give a shout-out and extend a huge thank you to all the members of our village.  

Up 1st the Class Officers for the Class of 2025:

• President- Macie Steiner 
• Vice President - Rylan Piccirilli 
• Secretary - Jackson Dinger  
• Treasurer - Kendall Rodgers  

Great job.  You have been resilient, determined, organized, patient, and an absolute pleasure to work with.

In addition, I would like to thank Mrs. Springer, Mrs. Skibo, and Miss Meighen for serving as senior class advisors, as well as the administration, all our staff, students, and our School Board.  In addition, thank you to all the parents and guardians who have been part of our students’ support system. Your support for them has been impressive.

I want to share some of my message to the Class of 2025.  The GOAT Tom Brady stated, “Compare yourself to nobody but the kid in the mirror" and "the one who goes all in, all out and has the crazy confidence to know that who you are today is just a piece of who you are going to become." “You don't need to be the "next" anybody.” “You just need to be the best version of YOU.” “Promise yourself that, and trust me, the rest falls into place.”  Author Leo Buscaglia once wrote that the easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position.  You be you.  I often hear the phrase 'I am 18 and an adult' from our young adults.  Are you really?  Let’s take a brief glimpse of what that will consist of.   Here is a brief snapshot on what to expect. You do not always get to do what you want to do. You do not get to go where you want to go.  You get to do what you can afford to do.  And if and when you have kids, you will do whatever your kids allow you to do.  Your parents can attest to that.  Now factor in paying for a place to stay, a car, car insurance, streaming services, cell phone, and internet bills.  That all comes before any leisure or recreational activities.  As you leave here tonight, welcome to the next 70 years of being an adult.  Have a sense of grit. Grit refers to a combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It's the ability to stick with something, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Grit is not about innate talent or luck but rather about the willingness to put in the effort and persist over time. 

Enjoy the summer break and best of luck to the Class of 2025.

Once a Blue Devil; always a Blue Devil.

John Vannoy