Matthew Paterson Elementary Welcomes Back Class of 2014

In a pre-graduation celebration, students from Matthew Paterson Elementary’s Class of 2014 – now seniors in Carmel High School’s Class of 2022 – took a trip down memory lane with a visit to their former fourth-grade teachers: Christine Demme, Charissa Vickery and Cathy DeGloria.

The tradition of inviting seniors back to visit dates back several years with Demme and Vickery, who taught the same group of students, switching classes for different subjects. DeGloria joined in the tradition as she had the unique opportunity to teach some of the students in kindergarten, first and fourth grades while they attended the school.

“We are so happy to see you all,” Vickery said to the gathering of nearly 30 students. “Thank you for humoring us and coming back to your old elementary school because we really look forward to this.”

The teachers prepped memory yearbooks for the students with photos from their time at Matthew Paterson which garnered lots of smiles and laughs. The students each shared with their former teachers and classmates their plans for next year and beyond, after they graduate from Carmel High School this week. 

“You walked back and forth between the Giants fan and the Cowboys fan, you learned science and social studies with Mrs. Vickery and I taught you math, and we danced on Fridays, if you remember,” Demme told the students. “We are beyond proud of you and excited for your next chapter!”