SOUTHWICK – Students at Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School (STGRHS) made their case for an outdoor graduation during last night’s regional school committee meeting.
Senior Class Officers Alyssa Kelleher and Sarah Bodzinski told the committee numerous classmates were upset when they heard the ceremony would be held indoors.
“It’s a tradition we don’t want taken from us,” said Kelleher.
Kelleher speculated that behavior at past graduations is the reason for the switch. Last year, the ceremony could not be held outside because of work on the track. Kelleher said she did not believe there was cause for concern.
“If it’s an issue of behavior, we just got back pep rallies and everyone behaved well, I don’t think it will be a problem,” she said.
Bodzinski said students look forward to the outdoor ceremony for years.
“We want to walk down the hill – we’ve been dreaming about it since freshman year,” she said.
Beside keeping a tradition, the girls said many students are upset because an indoor ceremony would limit the number of family and friends able to attend graduation.
Kelleher and Bodzinski said the class would rather have people standing or bring lawn chairs rather than hold the event inside.
“We strongly hope you will consider our proposal and keep graduation outside,” Kelleher said.
Superintendent John Barry said the high school council would make the decision and he would bring their concerns to Principal Joseph Turmel.
“You did a great job putting your opinion out there,” said Barry.
