Tyl Students Take the Next Step

In Monday's golden evening light, students from Leonard J. Tyl Middle School gathered for a ceremony that marks the end of one phase of life and the start of another.

Parents and step-parents, grandparents and aunts, friends and relatives of all sorts brought folding chairs, spread out blankets and leaned against cars, watching the Tyl students go through the promotion ceremony.

Jennifer Lopez, who will leave her teaching job at the Murphy School to begin teaching in the fall at Tyl, said that the Tyl ceremony is a very big deal for the family, and for Michael, 14, who will be starting at Montville High School in the fall.

"I'm excited for him," she said. "I think he's ready/"

Christina Alevras, 14, is ready for the change, she said. She feels good about leaving Tyl and heading toward high school, though her friends Michelle Rose, 13, and Jordan Butler, also 13, don't.

While Michelle says that she "hated" all the rules at Tyl, she doesn't want to leave the people. Jordan nods in agreement.

Her mom, Kim Devost, feels the same. She doesn't like it.

"It means I'm getting old," she says.