As the School Year Begins, A Change in Graduation

The first School Committee meeting of the new academic year explored the possibilty of changing the time, date and location of graduation.

Canton High School principal Douglas Diaz presented the findings of a committee that explored changes to the high school graduation ceremony.

The proposals were to change the date, time and location of the ceremony to Friday, June 8, 2012 on the football field.

“I am responsible for organizing the graduation,” Dr. Diaz said, explaining most of the changes were made in the interests of safety and convenience.

School Committee Chairman John Bonanzio approved of the time change.

“I want to go on record as supporting the recommendation, but not the change of location,” Bonanzio said.

The chairman said the previous location, the Rodman Building, was more traditional. The rest of the committee members approved the proposals.

In other School Committee news, Television Production teacher Ed McDonough reported a $100,000 donation of TV equipment from Canton Community Television to Canton High School. The equipment replaces the 10-year-old system with a new central console that can take camera feeds from three different locations.

Bonanzio asked if he could tour the revamped studio with the rest of the School Committee.

McDonough also asked permission for television production students to attend the Student Television Network Convention in Dallas, Texas this year. Students will raise their own money for the trip to the convention, which brings together hundreds of TV production students from across the country and features presentations and workshops by TV professionals.

“It’s inspiring to be around peers who share your passion,” student Zach Levinson said about the conferences.

Levinson has won two film writing contests with ISM films.

Student Dan Sheehy produced a video of last year’s Student Television Network Convention that was played at the School Committee meeting. Embedded in the film was a music video by fellow student Joe Sabatino called "Lava Tag." Sabatino produced the video during an 8-hour workshop at the convention.

“This opportunity really lets the students build up their project management and public speaking skills effectively," McDonough said.

Foreign Language Coordinator Karen Augenstern gave an update on the status of the world language department at Canton High School.

Augenstern emphasized that in addition to grammar and vocabulary, the program teaches students “how to act appropriately in a cultural context,” including body language.

“Grammar is not the goal,” Augenstern said, “it’s a tool.”

School Committee Chair John Bonanzio expressed support for the foreign language program, but wondered if it were as cost effective as possible.
Augenstern responded that she appreciated the concerns, but pointed out “we can buy anything if we speak English, but we can’t sell everything if we speak only English.”