PARSIPPANY — Families, teachers and friends gathered at the Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library on Saturday, June 20, to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2026 from The Goddard School of Parsippany.
The ceremony marked an important milestone for the young students as they completed their preschool education and prepared to begin kindergarten in the fall. Proud parents, grandparents and loved ones filled the room as graduates participated in a program that included the Pledge of Allegiance, musical performances, speeches and diploma presentations.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Pulkit Desai addressed the graduates and their families, congratulating the students on reaching their first educational milestone. Desai encouraged the children to continue learning, exploring and making new friends as they begin their kindergarten journey.
Nicole Castillo welcomed guests to the ceremony before the graduates led the Pledge of Allegiance. Students also performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Stand By Me,” and “Moving Up to Kindergarten,” celebrating the friendships and memories they formed during their preschool years.
Special remarks were delivered by Ms. Shakila and Ms. Keaghlan during the Outstanding Owls presentation. Diploma presentations and congratulatory remarks were provided by Nerale and Pavan Patel, who recognized the students’ achievements and growth throughout the year.
Graduates recognized during the ceremony included:
- Evelyn Amos
- Lilya Awad
- Joie Campbell
- Iniabasi Eno
- Travis Estrada
- Bhavika Gadde
- Asiya Hanfi
- Sarang Kaushik
- Ruthwik Madhusudhana
- Liam Martinez
- Karina Massa Dalgo
- Kiaan Patel
- Sanaya Patel
- Simaya Patel
- Mila Raval
- Riaan Shah
- Vivaan Reddy Thatiparthe
- Matthew Wiegers
- Aven Yang
The Goddard School of Parsippany is part of The Goddard School network, a nationally recognized early childhood education organization serving children from infancy through kindergarten. The school emphasizes a play-based learning approach that combines academic readiness with social, emotional and physical development.
Through hands-on activities, collaborative learning and individualized instruction, students develop foundational skills in literacy, mathematics, science and problem-solving while building confidence and independence. The school’s curriculum is designed to encourage curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.
For the graduates and their families, the ceremony represented both a celebration of accomplishments and the beginning of an exciting new chapter. As they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, the students took their first steps toward kindergarten and the educational adventures that lie ahead.
