One-by-one Falls High School ninth-graders signed their names on a piece of tapestry using black permanent markers Wednesday afternoon.
The action signified their individual and collective commitment to graduate as part of the International Falls class of 2015, during the third annual commitment to graduation ceremony.
The cloth sign, imitating a large piece of scroll paper, featured the message, “We support the Falls High School Class of 2015 on their commitment to graduation.” These words were surrounded by the approximate 90 signatures of ninth-grade students. The tapestry will be hung in the school cafeteria for the next few years.
In the 2014-15 school year, the sign will be moved to the main hallway, as a reminder to the students — who will be seniors that year.
“The whole idea is to get them thinking about graduation earlier,” said Falls High School principal Tim Everson. “We want them to realize that what they’re doing in the next three years is determining their graduation.”
The idea is the brain child of Adam Bartell with Minnesota Graduate Services, the company that provides graduation products to the high school and other schools in Northern Minnesota. Bartell began the ceremony three years ago at FHS, and has continued it annually.
Bartell said the program originated in the southern U.S. states to boost graduation rates, but the purpose of bringing it to Minnesota and to the Falls is different.
“In Minnesota, graduation rates are pretty high, so we cater to the awareness of what it means to work toward graduation and what comes next,” Bartell said. “Three years ago, we started this in International Falls, and we hope to develop this program here, and then, the plan is to take it to other schools in Minnesota.”
After signing their names, students received “mini diplomas” and “class keys,” made of a “class of 2015” pendant on a chain.
“It gives them something to hold on to,” said guidance counselor Thane Grewatz. “These students have been together for nine years. They have four more to go, and then they’ll go their separate ways — it goes by fast.”
Bartell is working with Everson, Grewatz and others in the district to expand the program throughout the school year, instead of one annual event.
During the ceremony, Everson gave his advice to students as they gathered in the cafeteria.
“We’re dedicated to giving you everything you need to graduate,” Everson said to the students. “Get involved, Take advantage of opportunities given to you, or ones that come your way. Don’t pass those up.”
He added that, for the students’ generation, it’s “guaranteed you will need some sort of post-secondary training in order to get a job — whether it’s to operate a bulldozer, be a welder, be a doctor or become a teacher.”
“I know it may seem far away, but the things you’re doing now will affect you in your post-secondary life,” Everson said. “They say now, in your generation, people will change careers an average of five to seven times throughout their life. So you want to be well prepared.”
Bartell shared his own struggle toward graduation, in failing the state standardized testing two years in a row, before passing in his junior year of high school.
“Looking back, I wish it wasn’t that way, because there was that cloud hanging over me,” Bartell said to the ninth-graders. “People are here to help you guys get through this. It feels good to get things done and get closer to graduation — you only graduate once.”
Next year, the graduation signature banner from the first year of the program will be placed in the hallway, and the school will graduate the first group that participated in the commitment to graduation program — Falls class of 2013.
“We’re willing to help them succeed. Because when they succeed, we all succeed,” Bartell said. “The kids get fired up, they want to sign, and seeing their name hung up there is a big deal to them.”
Everson added, “For some kids, I think it does make a difference. Some kids are set — they’re going to graduate either way — but some need a little boost, and this helps.”
