High School here they come
The Belen Jesuit 8th grade class finished off their middle school journey with a special drive-by celebration on June 3rd. One-by-one, each member of the class of 2024 drove by the front of the school to cheers and music, as the 8th-grade faculty and administration celebrated them.
“I cannot express the joy I felt when I saw our boys at school on Wednesday,” said Assistant Principal to the Middle School Patricia Bustamante. “We were so excited to celebrate the Class of 2024 and all they accomplished throughout middle school. I hope they felt our love and saw how very proud we are of them. I know they are going to do great things in high school. They will always hold a special place in my heart.”
It wasn’t the typical 8th-grade send-off but it was certainly memorable. The students received a Belen bucket hat, a dedication page signed by their teachers and a prayer card. In lieu of the traditional churrasco lunch, they were each given a pan con bistec meal. They also took a commemorative photo with Father Wille ‘87 and Mr. Roca ‘84.
“The drive-by celebration was a sign of hope in a long period of darkness,” said Jacob Caudle '24. “Many people I spoke to, as well as myself, were thrilled to see our teachers that we had only gotten to speak to virtually. It was nice to see them in this ‘out of school’ fashion where we didn’t have to worry about our grades and only worry about enjoying the moment.”
Before the last day of school, students also had the chance to let loose as a class and have some fun on Zoom. A special “Hats Off to Middle School” Zoom party took place on May 28th with teachers getting in on the fun with their students and wearing silly/fun hats.
“The Zoom party gave us a chance to come together as a class which we had not been able to do for a long time,” said brothers Joseph and Joshua Ruiz '24. “It allowed us to celebrate the end of middle school and lead us into our next stage at Belen. We are thankful for our teachers and counselors who work so hard for us each day.”
“We know this wasn’t the way any of us thought this school year would end,” said Principal José E. Roca '84. “The administration is committed to making sure that the members of the class of 2024 will receive their pins at a ceremony that is being planned for August. We are proud of each of our 8th-graders and wish them well as they prepare for high school and look forward to sharing many more memories with them in the years to come.”
Congratulations to the class of 2024, click here to see the photo album from the drive-by celebration.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.