When one door closes, another opens. And so it will be for 166 Langley Middle School eighth graders who are graduating today.

The eighth-grade class will be leaving middle school behind and get ready to accept their new status as September’s freshman class at South Whidbey High School.

The graduation ceremony begins at 8:40 a.m in the middle school gymnasium and will last about two hours. Graduates will hear four of their classmates speak during the ceremony.

Katherine East and Orson Ossman were chosen by the staff to speak, while Kellie Robinson is the student choice speaker. Kaylee Baldwin will take her turn at the podium as the outgoing Associated Student Body president.

East said she is going to comment on how things have changed between the school and the community during her time at LMS.

“Community members were always giving to school; now with the number of LMS programs and classes, students are giving back to South Whidbey,” she said. “We have completed the cycle.”

Ossman said he will pay tribute to LMS teachers. Baldwin will talk about the accomplishments of the her class, and Robinson will talk about friendships both old and new.

Following graduation ceremony, a celebration luncheon for the grads will be held at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club.