Schools

GVHS Seniors: Let Retiring Teachers Speak at Graduation

The student council representative to the board delivered a petition endorsed by most of her class.

Traditionally, one retiring Great Valley High School teacher speaks at graduation, offering advice on behalf of all teachers retiring. The school board's decision to discontinue that portion of the commencent ceremony appears to have dismayed most of the class of 2012, who will receive their diplomas on June 8.

At the May 14 school board meeting, Natalie Winicov, the student council representative to the school board, presented a petition signed by 215 seniors asking the board to reverse its decision. There are 298 students total in the class, according to the school's profile (PDF).

"The senior class with little time managed to show their opinion to the board," Winicov said as she handed the list of signatures to a board member.

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After the meeting, she elaborated on the situation, saying, "[The board] decided that the teachers were making the graduation ceremony about the teachers and not the students, so they eliminated that. Two hundred fifteen seniors signed the petition saying that we want the retiring teachers to speak."

Board president Dave Barratt didn't respond to the message in the petition, saying only he would make sure everyone on the board received a copy.

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