Belmont Public Schools (BPS) closed out the 2026-2027 school year last week, with ceremonies across the district celebrating students moving on to the next stage of their education journey.
Belmont Middle School students prepare for their move to Belmont High School. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Belmont Middle School students at move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Chenery Upper Elementary students at move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Wellington Elementary Students prepare for their move to the Chenery Upper Elementary School. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Wellington move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Families celebrate their students at Wellington Elementary School move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Wellington Elementary School move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Wellington Elementary School move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice) 
Burbank Elementary School move-up day. (Shealagh Sullivan/Belmont Voice)
“Moving up” marks a student’s graduation from their current school. Whether it’s from their neighborhood elementary school to Chenery Upper Elementary School or from middle school to high school, hundreds of Belmont students are taking on a new school, and new challenges, in the fall.
“We don’t remember all of the names and faces of the past nine years, but we do remember the feelings, the memories, the true high points of our education at important turning points in our lives,” said eighth grader Campbell Sassone, a speaker for the middle school’s “Resilience” team.
At Belmont Middle School, eighth grade students prepared to take on the next four years of high school. Though they’ll be in the same building, students said the change is sure to be felt.
“We’ve learned how to overcome challenges, work together, and keep going when things get tough. As we move on to high school, I hope that we carry what our team names are, persevere to keep going, resilience to come back, and tenacity keep chasing our dreams,” said Thomas Zheng during his remarks representing the middle school’s “Perseverence” team. “Next year will bring new teachers, new opportunities, and probably, it will bring a few wrong turns, but we’ll figure it out as we always do.”
At Chenery Upper Elementary School, the sixth grade students were revered for their continued resilience. From being some of the youngest students to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic — they were in kindergarten at the time — to being the first group of fourth graders welcomed into Chenery, Principal Laura Smith said the group defines what it means to persevere.
“You embraced change with excitement, enthusiasm, and an openness to new experiences. You helped build something entirely new, and because of that, your class will always hold a special place in the history of this school,” Smith said in her remarks to the future class of 2030.
At elementary schools across the district, students were celebrated for their eagerness to learn and kindness toward each other. Students sang songs, and Burbank students continued the annual tradition of giving flowers to their loved ones in the crowd.
Students will return to school on Sept. 2.