Principal LaLiberte Surprised with Honorary Gift

The entire student body and faculty of the surprised soon-to-retire Principal Thomas LaLiberte with an outdoor assembly in his honor.  On Monday, while Principal LaLiberte was in a well-planned meeting with Superintendent of School Jeff Granatino, over 200 appreciative fans, both students and teachers, gathered around a park-like bench built in his honor.  The Galvin Middle School chorus sang, and the band played the American Spirit March.

Surprised, LaLiberte was paraded to the stone bench while students came up to a podium to conduct the ceremonies.  They presented him with a “Memory Box” created by the Art Department, as well as a farewell poem.  As the sun peeked through the otherwise cloudy day, the principal was shown the new sign, which looks just like a town of Canton sign, which will mark the new stone bench and garden.  It will, of course, be called “LaLiberte Circle.”

Accepting this gift, the principal said, “This is truly an honor. It has been such a pleasure to work with you, the students and you the teachers!”

LaLiberte will retire at the end of June, concluding a decade of service at the Galvin as principal, and a lifetime of teaching and leading schools in both Canton and Duxbury. 

Nothing but the highest praise for the principal came from several students interviewed during the event. Colin Droney, a seventh grader, expressed sadness at the departure of the principal, who he recalled as being known to stop in to the lunchroom to say hello and tell jokes.

“He is very relaxed. He jokes with all the kids,” said Colin Droney.

“But when he needs to, he’s serious,” added Billy Hines.

Superintendent Granatino had similar heartfelt sentiments. “Tom has given his life to education," he said. "He is a great leader, teacher and a great friend.  We’ve been lucky to have him and he will be sorely missed.”