Diman graduates go out with a bang

By PHIL DEVITT

Fall River Spirit Editor

Graduates broke out the beach balls several minutes into commencement exercises at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School last Friday, making it clear they wanted not just a ceremony, but a party.

"Ladies and gentlemen, decorum," Assistant Superintendent-Director Brian Bentley politely chided from the podium as graduating seniors tossed two colorful spheres around.

But teachers got in on the fun as well, surprising the graduates with a performance of Katy Perry's hit "Firework" — followed by actual fireworks.

Hundreds of cheering relatives packed the athletic field bleachers to send off the outgoing senior class. They proved to be just as, if not more, excited than the graduates, blasting air horns and vuvuzelas and waving balloons, Diman banners and homemade signs as students received their diplomas.

Together one last time at what has been their second home for four years, the seniors — the ladies in orange and the men in black — turned their attention to the future.

"Some of us may be sad to leave while others can't wait to head for the exits, but we can't forget that the memories we made at Diman will stay with us forever," Valedictorian Melissa Arruda told her more than 300 classmates. "Let us remember the good times ... as we leave the security blanket that Diman has created for us."

Arruda thanked the teachers and trade instructors for helping her classmates develop from naive freshmen into well-rounded, educated seniors with "intellectual, moral and social" instruction and strong work ethics. "Look at us now," she said.

The valedictorian, who will attend Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the fall, also paid homage to the parents. "They encouraged us to do the best we could and praised us when we did," she said.

Superintendent-Director Marta Montleon told the students that while they might not be high school students anymore, they are still part of the Diman family. Graduates should feel proud to represent the school as alumni, Montleon said, asking them to take the education they have been given and "pay it forward."

"Make a commitment tonight to make a difference in other people's lives," Montleon said.

Ladies and Gentlemen – Looks Like We Have the Best Song OF THE ...

Well, that was quick, wasn’t it?  WOW.  Everyone (namely us) have been so distracted by the never-ending X Factor Tweedycole-gate saga that Nicola Roberts managed to drop this yesterday without it making international headlines everywhere where good music is held dear.

Now, the word amazing doesn’t get thrown around lightly in these parts (n.b. the word amazing does indeed get thrown around lightly in these parts, but that’s neither here nor there) but this song Ladies and Gentlemen is, indeed, amazing.  AMAZING even.

When the first 23 second s of this leaked a few weeks ago, it seemed impossible that there was any way the finished track could live up to it.  Now, while that may be the case (mainly because a 23 second snippet of the best part of the song played seven times in a row will always trump the finished product with all it’s structurally essential ‘verses’ and such – think about it, how much better would Womanizer be if it were just literally “womanizer woma-womanizer you’re a womanizer oh” etc played on loop for 3:33?  EXACTLY) it’s still pretty fucking brilliant.  Gold Star Team Ginge, Gold Star.

Now, one could spend the rest of the evening dissecting all the many, many brilliant parts that make this not only the most essential pop release of the year, but possibly of the decade to date, but all that reading is taking up valuable time that YOU COULD BE LISTENING TO THE SONG OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

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