Next Wave School, Somerville’s alternative junior high school, graduated seven students on Wednesday night, June 13: Brendon Davis, Gabrielle Etienne, Shawn Soares, Carls Alphonse, Bobby Crump, (not in picture: Mercedes Reyes and Ronald Fuentes). Next Wave is designed to meet the special academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of troubled adolescents who for many different reasons have been unable to experience success in traditional mainstream settings. By combining the clinical concept of a therapeutic community with the educational concepts of individualized and specialized integrated learning experiences.

Students and staff: seated – Brendon Davis, Gabrielle Etienne, Shawn Soares, Carls Alphonse, Bobby Crump, and David Willey. Standing: Tommy Ward, Wadson Michel, Kini Griffen, MaryAnn Beaton, Paul O’Brien, Sarah Neumann, Agnes Gallant, David Aronofsky, Sally Brith, Andy Rosing, Maureen Robichaux.

Next Wave has been able to effect academic, social and personal successes for many students in a cost effective community based program. This year’s graduating class has added many different strengths to the school.   This group of graduates was definitely leaders in the school and helped to create a positive atmosphere. As a group, their average attendance came out to 97%. They are an incredibly hard working and dedicated group of students who have achieved one of their first milestones in life. They will be deeply missed at Next Wave next year.