Frank Speziale photo

NORWICH – Before the Norwich High School valedictorian and salutatorian delivered their remarks at graduation on Saturday, the two addressed the board of education to offer praises for the district that raised them and shed light on where it could improve at its regular meeting last Wednesday.

NHS valedictorian Wesley Mills – who is slated to enter the Air Force ROTC to study aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. – and salutatorian Ellie O'Neill – who will study biochemistry at the University of Rochester with a goal of pre-med – each thanked the district's teachers, administrators, coaches, and leaders for helping educate themselves before turning their focus to advocate for students whose lives have not been so nurtured.

"I have made memories that I will forever cherish ..." Mills said. "With that said, my experience was not the same as every other student's."

Mills went on to say that while he and O'Neill are fortunate enough to be academically gifted, other students in the district could use more academic and support resources to help them succeed.

"Many of our students require special attention in regards to both academics and counseling, and this we can't ignore," Mills said.

O'Neill echoed this notion in her remarks, saying, "I think the first place to start would be to seriously address the growing need for social and academic counseling in our schools."

O'Neill touched on how the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School affected schools and students everywhere, and how a nationwide movement to nurture mental health has followed. "I am asking Norwich to participant in this nationwide mission to better address the mentalities of the students," said O'Neill.

Both Mills and O'Neill acknowledged that improving these types of services in the district may require funding, but implied it is necessary.

"Our school district may be doing the best we can to solve these problems, but maybe what it might take is to address the problem at a different angle ..." said Mills. "I want every student to be brought up through education and have the desire to learn. To do this, we need a positive learning environment where every student can succeed to their fullest potential, and not just the gifted students like Ellie and myself."

O'Neill said, "Our students – rich or poor, high-performing or low-performing – deserve academic, vocational, and mental counseling that will better prepare them for whatever lies ahead. Whether that's the big grade, whether it's college, a job, or the military."

O'Neill also advocated for better handicapped seating in the high school auditorium, noting that her brother attends the district in a wheelchair.

"All of the important theater productions, award ceremonies, school assemblies, class meetings all happen in this auditorium and it's important that we make it accessible," O'Neill said. "We are a community of walking and wheeling children, young and old adults in sickness and health, and each person should feel their needs are met in every aspect at the school, including the auditorium."

Following their remarks, NCSD Superintendent Gerard O'Sullivan said, "One thing I was impressed about is your concern for other students and mental health. We are working on that, we're going to get better at that."

Board members Howie Sullivan and Jennifer Collins said the students' remarks were "amazing" and "impressive."