Final events scheduled for the Class of 2012

Some shed tears as they said their farewells to friends and faculty; others cheered as they exited the building.

Howell High School graduating seniors are preparing to take the next step for their futures as they say goodbye to the last four years of their lives.  However, it’s not totally over yet as there are still a few events for the class of 2012 to look forward to.

This year’s graduation commencement will be held on Saturday, June 2 at 5:00 pm. The ceremony is being held at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Due to the size of the center, all is welcome to attend.  There is also a mandatory graduation rehearsal on Friday, June 1 at Howell High School at 8:15 a.m..

“It’s weird to think that graduation is finally here. It feels like just yesterday I was in kindergarten,” says senior Courtney Arlington. “I am excited, but sad that it’s all over.”

The 2012 class quote is “Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you’ll die today,”  said by the late actor, James Dean. The class flower is the sunflower, and the class song is Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park. Each person will receive a sunflower with their diploma. The 2012 class officers include President Joshua Schnell, Vice-President Aryn Morrison, Secretary Claire Kwan, and Treasurer Hope Hersh.

Also, honors students will be given different colored cords to wear at graduation depending on their cumulative grade point average. A white cord will be given to those who are in the Summa Cum Laude category, which is a GPA range of 3.9-4.0. A gold cord will be given to those in the Magna Cum Laude category with a GPA range of 3.7-3.899. A silver cord will be given to those in the Cum Laude category with a GPA range of 3.5-3.6999, and a bronze cord will be given to students with a GPA ranging from a 3.0-3.4999.

While the graduation commencement is a milestone event, many of the seniors are really excited for the Senior All Night Party. The Senior All Night Party has been a tradition for over 20 years at Howell High School. It is held on June 2 at 11:00 p.m. in the field house. Students must be checked in between 11:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. and no later. Once students are checked in they will not be allowed to leave and come back.

This event is run completely by volunteer parents and donations, so that it can be a cost free event for the students. There will be a D.J and a live band, as well as many activities. Some of the activities include Henna tattoos, an obstacle course, football toss, basketball, a hypnotist, as well as Sumo suits for wrestling.  There will also be raffle prizes and a station to get a manicure or new hairstyle.

“I’m looking forward to the Senior All Night Party,” says senior Stephanie Straka. “I can’t wait to be hypnotized and make a fool of myself.”

The volunteer parents would like to give a special thanks to those who donated to the event and especially the Coy family for assisting everyone and making this event possible.

“It will be a really fun event for the kids,” says Karen Somers, one of the volunteer parents who helped put the party together.

So, Class of 2012, make the best of these last few high school memories and good luck as you continue on to the next step of your life.

Senior All-Night Party to be held June 4

This year, for the first time ever, the All Night Senior Party will be held at the Parker High School Field House on Saturday, June 4. Doors will open at 11pm and close at 12am, with the party ending at 6am on Sunday, June 5.

Students must reserve a spot in order to attend. Sign-ups will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May 10, 11, 17, and 18, during all three lunches in the commons area. Students must bring a photo i.d. to sign up. The event is free.

This year, as in the past, the All Night Senior Party will be put together by helpful parent volunteers.

Some activities planned include a hypnotist, casino room, picture opportunities, cards, a dance area/DDR, and video games on the big screen. There will also be snacks, food items, and an ice cream bar. Raffles and prizes will be awarded. Parents want to make sure that no graduating senior leaves empty handed.

For more information and updates, check out the website: www.2011seniorparty.com . Students can view a list of sponsors and the type of prizes being given away.

One of the many parent volunteers for this event Mrs. (Heidi) Patton says, “Don’t miss out on this last opportunity to party with your classmates and have a great ending to this chapter of your life.”

 

Going, going, gone: 2011 graduation to be held at MSU

What? Howell High School, Class of 2011 Graduation

When? June 4

Where? The Breslin Center.

Yes, you read that right. For the first time ever, graduation for Howell High School’s senior class will not be held at the high school itself. Rather, it will take place at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, which is located half an hour away. If you’re confused about this turn of events, don’t worry. You’re not the only one.

Why is this happening, you may ask? Many other people have been pondering over this very same question, and circulating a great deal of speculation and controversy in the process. There are multiple and specific reasons why graduation is not being held in the auditorium as per usual, but the answer can really be summed up in one word: size. With a graduating class of approximately 600, it’s likely that the auditorium would have already been filled to an uncomfortably high capacity. When you factor in all the additional family members and friends that will surely be attending for every one of those 600 seniors, that number becomes much, much greater — and the lack of size becomes even more apparent.

HHS Principal Aaron Moran and his colleagues cite the size of the auditorium (or lack thereof) as the primary catalyst for change. There is simply not enough room for a graduating class of this magnitude, and having graduation outside — last year’s solution to this problem — presents a similar issue. In addition, an outdoor graduation ceremony also faces the possibility of inclement weather. And let’s face it: in Michigan, if there’s one thing you can’t count on, it’s our unpredictable weather.

“With the Breslin Center, we have a guaranteed venue,” said Mr. Moran. The Breslin Center is an indoor facility that has a maximum capacity of 16,280 people. This means that each senior could bring 27 people with them to graduation if they’d want to. There is more than enough room for everyone at the Breslin Center, which is far from true for Howell. If graduation were to be held here, there would most likely have to be a limit set on how many guests could be brought.

Student reaction to the change appears to be mixed, thus far.

“As long as it’s not crowded and everyone that wants to be there is there, I think it’s a great idea,” said Jonathan Wines, a senior.

Another senior, Alicia Galloway, agreed. “It’s more spacious and the ceremony will be more comfortable.”

However, some seniors are saddened with the idea of leaving the school grounds, breaking years of tradition.

“I’m disappointed because I think you should have a graduation at your high school.  We’re graduates of Howell High School, and it should be held here no matter what,” senior Mitchel Raftery said.

Mr. Moran concedes that it’s going to be different, but he remains confident that it will all work out in the end. “We want to do what’s in the best interest for all the students,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes.”