by Emily LeSueur –
With a new school comes many firsts, including the first class to graduate from the building. The class of 2013 has that honor. But with that first graduation ceremony comes stresses over parking, the new turf field, and seating arrangements.
School Resource Officer Tim Shiflett, who is in charge of everything dealing with graduation, is handling all of this stress with great stride. He has been in contact with VDOT and state police to be able to handle the traffic of the big day.
His biggest worry is the parking. Shiflett does not want people to wait until the last minute to leave their house. “If you only give yourself 15 minutes before the ceremony starts to get to the school, you’ll be reading bumper stickers,” said Shiflett. He suggests allowing yourself at least an hour to get to the ceremony.
While the new football field itself can accommodate a larger number of people, parking will still be limited. There are around 450 parking spots at the school, including 50 parking spaces designated for handicapped parking; this is actually less than the number of spaces at the old building. Once those spaces are full, people will be asked to park at Pleasant Grove and walk over or take one of four shuttles going back and forth.
One of the greatest challenges of graduation from the new school is not destroying the $80,000 turf field. The school has purchased 22,000 tennis balls to put on the bottom of the chairs to make sure the chairs do not puncture the new field. Also, the public and graduating students are asked to not wear high heels in order to protect the delicate football field. If students show up in heels, they will not be allowed to walk at graduation.
Many in the senior class of 2013 have mixed feelings about being the first to graduate from the new school. Some are just ready to graduate and leave high school. Others’ feelings are more complicated. “I’m excited to graduate, but at the same time I’m disappointed to not be able to get much time out of the new school, and all it has to offer,” said senior Krista Petzold. Either way the soon-to-be graduates look at it, the senior have exciting things ahead of them.
“We are really excited about the Class of 2013 and our first graduation at the new building. It’s our greatest hope to make it memorable and festive for everyone who attends and we are so looking forward to the many graduating classes to come,” said Martha Holt, the teacher who is in charge of the graduating class.
