Homer Alaska - Schools -

This year's promotion, decided by Principal Dan Beck with unanimous support from the school's site council, will be held at 1:30 p.m. May 21, the last day of school.

"Mostly the entire eighth-grade class wants to have a real graduation ceremony after school, a typical graduation, with a traditional theme, a dress-up thing, the entire experience like we had when we graduated from eighth grade," said Parkinson, who took her request to Beck.

"We had a very nice conversation about it. He explained to me how they do the promotional thing and don't do the whole graduation," she said.

"I told him my view on it and that I didn't think they were doing the right thing. I thought the kids should have a real graduation. From what I heard, most of them (the students) wanted it."

When Parkinson's idea didn't get Beck's support, she told Beck "I'd fight him on it."

As a result, Parkinson helped her daughters write a petition they are now circulating among classmates.

"I told my girls if they believe in it, they need to fight for it," Parkinson said. "The first day, they got more than 70 signatures."

Student input on school decisions is something Beck and the site council encourage. In fact, opportunities were available when decisions about the promotion were being made earlier this year.

"Student council representatives are always invited to site council meetings," Beck said. "Traditionally, they have not been in attendance to represent their constituents."

Parent involvement also is welcomed, according to Annie Ridgely, council chairperson.

"They are able to speak during the public comment part," Ridgely said. "We welcome that."

Those involved in planning this year's eighth-grade promotion focused on making it a celebration of academic achievement. The afternoon timing, rather than in the evening, was part of that focus.

"Everything is exactly what we've done, other than basically changing the time," Beck said. "That's the significant change."

What HMS is doing to honor eighth graders is in line with other middle schools in the district, according to Glen Szymoniak, district assistant superintendent and former HMS principal.

During recent conversation with principals at Soldotna and Kenai middle schools, Szymoniak was told their emphasis was to "really try to downplay the whole graduation, big ceremony and hold that for when kids actually do finish their K-12 career."

Kenai and Soldotna honor their eighth graders in the morning, the choir performs and parents are invited to attend.

"It's kind of an end-of-the-year celebration, but as far as any special dress-up, certificates, marching, they don't do anything like that," Szymoniak said,

Drawing from his years at HMS, Szymoniak recalled promotions both in the evening and in the afternoon.

"It's one of those things that doesn't have to be a lock-in on how it's done. It can be afternoon, evening, morning," he said, adding that the ultimate decision is made on site.

In terms of parent and student input on school decisions, Szymoniak said, "The world is run by those that show up. That's our whole democracy - representation, showing up at meetings, making decisions. But when you don't do that and come back around after people have made decisions and moved forward, it makes it difficult for everybody involved."

Site council agendas, as well as grades and other school-related information, are posted on edline, a school district program that can be accessed online by teachers, parents and students. Parkinson said her daughters are familiar with edline, but she is not.

Of feedback he as received, Beck said "significantly more" favored the plans for this year's promotion.

The next and last site council meeting of the school year is scheduled for May 15, 4 p.m.

"I invited parents, particularly this one, to come to the next site council meeting and there's a time when we ask for public comments," Ridgely said, referring specifically to Parkinson.

"They can share their comments then, but as of right now, it was the unanimous decision to have (promotion) on the last day of school."

Until then, Parkinson is continuing to help her daughters gather support from classmates and parents.

"As soon as they bring me all the kids' signatures, I'm going to take that petition to Mr. Beck and say, 'Here. Look. This is what we've got so far. Now, will you consider changing your mind?" Parkinson said.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jckinsky@homernews.com.