Commencement Revisited

Graduation on June 2 was held indoors, and while I received some grief from students when I made the announcement, the 108-degree turf temperature I took at 1pm vindicated my decision. Looking at the setup we implemented this year, we may be able to fit more people into the air-conditioned gym next year, should it be held indoors again. The student speeches were excellent, and was a great capstone to the senior year.

I received two requests for a copy of my speech (admittedly, one was from my Mom), so here it is:

Good afternoon and thank you all for coming. We are here today to recognize and celebrate our hard work and effort in the areas of academics as well as service to our school, its citizens, and our community.  

When my son first got a cell phone, his phone plan allows him 200 texts a month. Yes- a month. At first I thought it was 200 characters a month, because I would text him as he rode the bus back from an away game, seeking such helpful information as ‘when will you be back in town?” The initial responses were ‘dk’, which I guess means ‘Don’t know”. I asked him to use proper grammar, and now his response is ‘idk’.

Anyways, he knows I am a principal. He knows I expect him to always show proper behavior in school. He knows that if he decides to violate school rules, he will have to live with the consequences.

Imagine my surprise when I received a text message from him on a Friday during the school day using his new-found eloquence. To help you understand, I will read it to you in its entirety.

Dad, I’m Failing Math!!! I don’t know what to do! I’m freaking out!! What should I do?

I replied: Breath- It will be okay.

Him: I’m hyperventilating!

Me: Breath!! YOU WILL BE OKAY. I promise!

Him: okay.

Later that day, I spoke with his counselor, and subsequently, my son. When I asked him what he could do differently, so he can raise his grades , all he could come up with was ‘work harder’. He is a teenage, and he already works very hard, it is easy to think that is all that is required to be successful. If you are trying to open a door with your head and it isn’t working, pounding it harder will not work. We discussed new strategies: going after school regularly, study groups with his friends; online resources, etc. After a few days he calmed down. I know he will be fine.

Also, I am glad that this happened. A month ago I was speaking with a friend whose son was a freshman in college. He shared a similar story- a panicked phone call from his son on receiving a bad grade on a paper. He had never received such a low grade before and was dejected, depressed, and despondent. My friend volunteered the uncomfortably low grade. 86.

Too many students discover the pain of a bad grade for the first time in college, and don’t know how to deal with it. In some ways, I wish every student had the experience of an unexpectedly bad grade, so they can experience the heart-wrenching disappointment and momentary panic. Many of you, I am sure, have experienced it during your time in Medway, and despite the fear and disappointment, here you are- successfully graduating and moving on to the next phase of your life. Everything is alright, you are graduating from high school. You remembered to breathe. I commend you for your hard work, strategy, and commitment to your school.

Thank you.

Now, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the parents of these students. You are your sons’ and daughters’ first teacher, creating the foundation upon which the Medway Teachers have contributed. You have entrusted your children to us, and as a father myself, I take this responsibility very seriously. Like you, the faculty, staff and administration are committed to helping your child grow into intelligent, respectful, creative, and caring young men and women. Again, thank you for all that you do to support us.

Before I begin to announce and recognize the students, I wish to formally thank those that have worked so hard to make today’s ceremony a success: Mike  Rubin our Dean of Academics and Activities, who has worked tirelessly with the class officers to make this day a true celebration. Dot Pearl, for giving us the history and insight to making this week a success along with senior class advisers, Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Aigler. Arranging all of these chairs, ensuring the air conditioning is working, and making sure that this ceremony is broadcast is due to the hard work of Jim MacLean, Pat Cole, Larry Erving, Jeff Grenon, and Joe MacLaughlin. Thank you.

A very special ‘thank you’ goes to the Medway Secondary Home and School Association High School Association for providing water today, and giving students this 2013 Medway High Pin. I have worked in several schools, but have never experienced this level of support and enthusiasm for a high school by a parent group.  

I’d also like to thank Carole Bernstein and the Medway 300 Committee for a special pin commemorating Medway’s tercentenary. In recognition of this historic milestone, today’s graduates are wearing commencement robes specially embroidered with the Medway300 and it is also printed on the diplomas.

Last, and certainly not least, I would like to thank all of the teachers and support staff in the district. While high school may be the final phase of your education, it began the moment you stepped into one of our classrooms, whether that be pre-school, kindergarten, or 9th grade. There are eleven teachers retiring from our district this year, and I’d like to recognize their dedication and contribution to our craft and children’s future:

• Namine Amaral
• David Andreoni
• Earnie Baraiolo
• Susan Cecchi
• Joyce Cooper
• Joyce Donahue
• Lorraine Francis
• Judith Homer
• Linda Matondi
• Sharon McComb
• and Virginia Phillips

I give you our thanks, and wish you the best in the next phase of your lives.

I now invite Mr. Rubin and Mrs. Pearl to step forward to assist with the conferring of the diplomas.