Some family and friends attending graduation were surprised to see armed police officers seated among the graduates on Saturday.A total of 16 chairs faced inward lining the graduates, each chair with an administrator, faculty member or armed school police officer. Students were also searched with metal detectors prior to entering the stadium. Any student who refused a search was to be removed from the commencement.
Principal Joe Casmus of the 11/12 high school said in a letter to parents that the increased security measures were a result of last year's graduation."Last year's graduation ceremony was an embarrassment," Casmus wrote in the May 20 letter. "The graduates' behavior was the worst ever."
Not offering a word of congratulations to the parents of graduating students once in his letter, Casmus referenced "inflated condoms" as one of the biggest distractions to last year's graduation.
Several security guards also lined the perimeter of the stadium.
RB for DV is waiting for a reply to an e-mail to Casmus to confirm that no students were ejected from graduation.
Update (June 17): RB for DV is also waiting for a reply to an e-mail to business manager Bill Hessling with how many people were working as security on Saturday and how much money security cost the district for the ceremony.
⇒ READ CASMUS' LETTER
View a .PDF of the letter
May 20, 2009(reverse)
To: Parents/Guardians Class of 2009
From: Mr. Joseph Casmus, Principal Grades 11 & 12
Re: Decorum & Expectations at the Graduation Ceremony
Graduation is a formal ceremony that marks the end of high school and the first steps into adulthood. Proper and polite behavior is expected and will be enforced this year. Last year's graduation ceremony was an embarrassment; the graduates' behavior was the worst ever. The class of 2008 continuously interrupted speakers by tossing beach balls and inflated condoms, by yelling, and by sounding air horns. They had bags of noise makers and inflatable items hidden under their graduation gowns.
The following security procedures will be enforced beginning with the class of 2009:
1. prior to entering the stadium each graduate will be searched with metal detectors and required to open their graduation gown to be sure that each graduate is appropriately attired and not concealing any bags (graduates will not be allowed to carry purses or bags into the ceremony). Failure to comply with the search will result in the graduate being immediately ejected from the premises and the graduate's name will not be called during the diploma distribution
2. school police officers will be sitting on the field beside the graduates; any student causing a disruption will be immediately escorted off the field while the ceremony continues; the graduate's name will not be called
3. additional spacing will occur between the rows of graduates so that administrators and police can easily escort culprits out of the ceremony.
The entire graduation ceremony takes about one hour to complete. High school graduates can sit and act in a mature manner for one hour. It is unfortunate that we have to resort to the above measures; however, with the cooperation of the graduates and their parents this will be a ceremony that is both memorable and positive.
GRADUATION FACT SHEET
Seniors with fourteen days of out of school suspension, or fourteen days of unexcused absences, or a combination of days of out of school suspension or unexcused absences numbering 14 may not attend the graduation ceremony.
Graduation is scheduled for Friday evening on June 12,2009 beginning at 7:00pm in the stadium. Graduates should arrive at the stadium by 6:00pm, one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Each graduate will be given five tickets for the stadium; graduation tickets will be distributed to the students after the required, graduation practice on Friday morning June 12. The graduates will be dismissed after the successful completion of the morning practice. probably around 1 0:30am on June 12. The middle schools and grades 9, 10, & 11 will be dismissed at 11:15am. There is no truth to the rumor that the graduates' names will not be called at the graduation ceremony; students who attend the graduation will have their names announced during the ceremony. Rain may change the date of graduation. If it is raining on June 12, 2009 then graduation will be scheduled for 10:00am on Saturday, June 13. If it is still raining Saturday morning, then graduation will take place at 7:00pm on June 13. If the rain continues on June 13, then the graduation ceremony will be Sunday, June 14 at 3:00pm.
Caps and gowns will be distributed on Wednesday (June 10, 2009) during the seventh period. Wednesday (June 10) is a full day of school for all students including the seniors. Any senior (who owes books, equipment, or fees) will not receive a cap and gown, will not receive graduation tickets, and may not participate in the graduation ceremony until those obligations are fulfilled.
The athletic recognition banquet will be held on Tuesday (June 2,2009). The banquet, beginning at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, is only for students and coaches. The awards presentations begin at 7:00pm in the auditorium; parents, family, and friends are invited to the awards presentation.
The outstanding student recognition banquet for clubs, academic activities, the arts, music, vocational clubs, and service groups will be held on Tuesday (June 9, 2009). The banquet, beginning at 6:00pm in the cafeteria, is only for students, coaches, and advisors. The awards presentations begin at 7:00pm in the auditorium; parents, family, and friends are invited to the awards presentation.
Scholarship Night is scheduled for Wednesday (June 10,2009) beginning at 7:30pm in the auditorium. Graduates receiving local scholarships are invited along with their family, relatives, and friends. No tickets are necessary, and all guests are accommodated.
Please contact me or the school counselors, if you have questions about the end of year activities for the graduating class.
Posts
7 comments:
I completely understand why the school administrators decided to heighten security as I was a witness to the atrocity that occurred at last years graduation and was also a witness to how much different this year was. I say, whatever it takes for the school to keep things respectful and under control they should do; after all, that is their job is it not?
Inflated condoms? Sounds like a situation that could blow up in your face.
Nah. They enjoy it too much. Last year every jabbed beach ball brought more joy than the first. I bet you saw that too.
It was twisted to see those police authorities and mean faced principals sitting there staring at the kids and its so easy to blame kids for stupid ideas. They could of stood on the sidelines. Just plain twisted by some twisted thinking HS people.
I think annoyed board members and administrators with their noses out of joint don't like the sharp minded and truth seeking graduates in the '08 class and sensational smear practices are all they have to sustain their power trips due to a massive long time lack of administrative creativity in the DV high school.
The Queen did decree... I am sure ... that her guards fire warning shots at the hooligans!
Maybe the students should act like the adults they profess to be and not inflate condoms or beach balls. Ever think about that?
Does anyone really believe a HS graduate is an adult, including them?
Post a Comment