SENIOR-CITIZEN-ITIS: The very well know English teacher David Sampselle prepares his students, and his speech, for the class of 2012 graduation. School may almost be over, but the speeches and papers are far from finished. - Angela Nino
Graduation is coming up on June 11 with students and teachers preparing for the big day. Everyone is trying to get through the rest of the year with less than a month until the end of the year.
Seniors have different plans for what they are going to do after they have walked across the stage and received their diplomas.
Senior Karen Bonilla said that she will wake up early and “try not to trip on stage.” After the ceremony, she will go to Bonefish Bar & Grill. During the summer, she will be going on a trip to Cancun, Mexico and will be attending Montgomery College in the fall.
Principal Scott Murphy said, “We recently went down to DAR Constitution Hall to get the planning laid out, like where everybody sits and stands and all that.” Murphy added, “Things will start to slow down because we [the faculty] want everybody focused on AP and IB exams.”
Prom took place April 27, which also made seniors excited for graduation. Murphy said, “Prom always signals the beginning of graduation season. You know the end is near when prom is here. It starts that excitement for the end of the school year and for graduation.”
Senior Ingri Fuentes said, “I’m ready to get out of here.” Fuentes said that she will go out with her parents after graduation then go to a party. She added, “I’m trying to go to Newberry College.”
This year’s senior class voted in January to have English teacher David Sampselle as the faculty speaker at graduation. Sampselle was the faculty speaker last year as well.
Beach week has also been on seniors’ minds. Seniors will have a few weeks off to make their own plans before graduation. “It’s a time that I worry about kids because they have this newfound freedom and are excited about graduating,” said Murphy.
There are about 350 students in the senior class with close to all graduating this year. Seniors and teachers are anxiously waiting for graduation to signal the official end of the school year and promote the current junior class to seniors.