Justine Cobrin is congratulated by teacher Melissa Provencial, right, and teacher’s assistant Elisa Damaso, left, as the graduates prepare for their commencement yesterday.

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The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

With most of the area’s Class of 2008 having already received diplomas, the pomp-and-circumstance spotlight yesterday turned to the graduates of The Carter School in Providence, part of the Meeting Street program.

As it played out elsewhere across the state this month and last, parents, friends and faculty were on hand to congratulate the school’s eight graduates — Manuel “MJ” Andrade, Justine Cobrin, Kyle Cordeiro, Katherine Cottone, Ernesto Depina, Andrew Giardino, Anthony Giardino and Amanda Martin.

The Carter School specializes in teaching its students, who have severe and profound special needs, life skills by mixing education, therapy and work experiences to prepare the students for life after school. The school serves students from different school districts who are referred to the school or seek it out on their own.