Wiscasset Middle School Principal Bruce Scally said that while the Monday, June 22, eighth-grade graduation was the last at the middle school, for every last there is a first.

Speaking to a packed gym at Wiscasset Middle School for what could be the school's last eighth-grade assembly ever, Scally said that the class of 2019 shouldn't be sad that its time at the middle school is over, but to be happy to be moving forward.

“My words are simple and singular: listen,” he said. “For every last, there's always a first. This ceremony marks the last time you'll enter this building as an eighth grader, but when you leave, it will be the first time you're freshmen.

“For every door that closes, another one opens. Looks for the open doors, not for the ones closing. But above all else, listen.”

Next year, Wiscasset Middle School will house the students currently at Wiscasset Primary, which will shutter its doors. The incoming seventh and eighth grade classes will join the class of 2019 at Wiscasset High School.

Scally said despite the challenges facing Wiscasset schools he believed they would pull through.

“I moved here in 1980, put all my children through these schools and I think Wiscasset's school system is, was, and will be an excellent system for our students.”

Scally took over for longtime principal Linda Bleile before the 2014-15 school year, and said that he felt the lone year at the helm was such a success he would like to return in some capacity.

Student body president Natalie Corson said her time within the walls of the middle school were filled with learning experiences, such as going down to the clam flats and traveling to Boston, and that's how she'll remember her time at the school.

“Being a student here was an amazing experience,” she said. “We've all had many great memories here. I will miss it for sure.”

Corson was one of 33 students to graduate from Wiscasset Middle School.

The President's Award for Educational Excellence was awarded to Taylor Robertson and Matthew Chapman; the President's Award for Educational Achievement was given to Zachary Mank, Christian Loyola and Abigail Knight.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals citizenship award went to Cameron Snyder, Sydney Thayer, Mank, Loyola, Josh Gabriele, Caleb Gabriele, Fred Harrigain and Haiden Dunning.

The Students of the Year were Chapman and Kennedy Sprague, and Chapman also took home the NEST award.

The Secretary of State Award, which was presented by state senator Chris Johnson, D-Somerville, went to Alicia Long.

The American Legion Awards went to Corson and vice president Matthew Smith and the top academic awards went to Robertson, Chapman, Smith, Long, Sprague, Knight, Jazmyne Lewis, Kenneth Wenzel, Makaila Giles, Gabrielle Penney, Nevaeh Pinkham and Paige Adams.