Say goodbye to Senior Week
Fri, Feb 22, 2008
By CAROLINA MURILLOThe Brunswick NewsAlmost through his second year as principal of Glynn Academy, Dave Baker is giving a failing grade to a decades-old tradition at the school: Senior Week. Instead of freeing graduating seniors from most requirements other than commencement practices the last week of the school year, he will require them to be on campus this May.His reason: Safety.Senior Week has traditionally been a time of celebration for students, whose only taste of school that week primarily involved commencement practices.
Glynn Academy Principal Dave Baker talks to Devont'e Freeman and Ashley Lewis on Thursday about the importance of maintaining safety when it comes time for them to graduate in May. (Nick Nichols/The Brunswick News)
| Many took the freedom to host parties at houses, apartments or hotel rooms they rented for a few days or the entire week on Jekyll or St. Simons islands. Many of the parties involved under-age drinking.Baker can't stop youths from partying this year, but anyone who does had better be at school the next day. Students who are not will be barred from the graduation ceremony May 30."Students will have to come to school all day and participate in several activities, including rehearsals," Baker said.Motivational speakers have been asked to talk to students and explain the dangers of illegal alcohol use.In Georgia, a person must be 21 years of age to legally buy and drink beer, wine, liquor or any other alcoholic beverage. As Baker sees it, requiring students to go to school every day will reduce their opportunity to drink and decrease the likelihood of them getting drunk or involved in an accident.The school's resource officers will conduct random checks for cigarettes and alcohol while the students are on campus."If there is any suspicion they are intoxicated, they will be tested as well," he said.Baker recognizes that high school graduates consider Senior Week a rite of passage, as deserved as tossing a graduation cap into the air. But the party atmosphere creates a climate with potentially serious consequences."Students get together to lease houses in the islands and chip in to buy and consume alcohol," Baker said. The combination of alcohol with young people celebrating the end of high school has ended in problems in the past, he said."A young lady drank anti-freeze at one party and was severely injured," he said. "As a result, she was not able to walk during her graduation ceremony." Such horror stories have drawn the concern of parents, many of whom support Baker's action. Norma McIntyre, who is involved in the school's Parent Teacher Association, says the proposal is a relief for parents."I've heard of Senior Week stories," said McIntyre, whose son David is about to graduate. "I know what they do and we don't want to risk something bad happening this year."That doesn't mean there won' be any fun the last week of high school. Parents and students will be involved coming up with fun and safe activities for seniors.Mandi Kirby, president of the school's PTA, says the idea is not to quash students' excitement, but to keep them safe."It's been a long time coming. It's an opportunity for them to learn how to be lawful citizens," said Kirby, who heads the PTA with her husband, Kelly.The PTA is in the process of sending anti-drug and alcohol flyers to parents of all seniors and will mail letters about the change in Senior Week in early May.For Baker, losing students is not an option. The school lost 18-year-old senior Mikeal Hodges Jan. 21. He was riding a bicycle on U.S. 17 when he was struck and killed by a car that the Georgia State Patrol said was driven by a man who had been drinking and failed to stop.Hodges would have been one of an estimated 375 students who plan to graduate on May 30.The school will honor his memory during the ceremony."There will be an open seat for him," Baker said. "A cap and gown will be placed over that seat and his mother will receive his diploma.""It is painful. We want parents to wake up the next morning of graduation and have their kids safe in bed."
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