The formal ceremony included performances by an a capella choir and a handbell choir.
SPRINGFIELD – A class of 21 seniors graduated from the Pioneer Valley Christian School during a commencement ceremony Friday at neighboring Evangelical Covenant Church on Plumtree Road.
All 21 graduates are headed for college.
The formal ceremony included performances by an a capella choir and a handbell choir. The graduates had also picked a song to sing together.
The valedictorian of the class of 2011 is Robert Annis of Belchertown. Salutatorian is Victoria Links of Somers, Conn.
Two student speakers addressed the graduates and guests. Class President Ariana Roberts, of Enfield, Conn., spoke, and so did Benjamin Peterson, who was elected by his classmates for the honor. Peterson is from East Longmeadow.
Words of inspiration also came from the school’s headmaster, Timothy Duff, and from the chairman of the board of the school.
Pioneer Valley Christian School, which serves preschool through grade 12, had 270 students enrolled this year. The students come mostly from Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.
More than 700 people were expected to attend the ceremony.
The private, non-denominational Christian school was founded in 1972. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Association of Christian Schools International.