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| Graduation ceremonies for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Starkweather Academy students took place June 8 and for Canton, Salem and Plymouth high schools on June 11. |
Kevin Lane has been the principal at Starkweather for 17 years and he says watching the students participate in the graduation ceremony at the Salem High School auditorium was a deeply joyful moment.
“The ceremony itself is very personal, with each student having a personally written message read about their goals and experiences and 'thank yous,'” Lane said. “Each Starkweather student has had significant barriers to overcome - that is why they are with us, and the joy of this accomplishment is so profoundly emotional. We have had many who are the first to graduate in their family or the first to be on a strong career path toward a trade or college.”
As a high school designed for students with different learning abilities and needs, Starkweather centers programs and services around individual students' schedules and strengths. Starkweather classes are small, with a low student-to-teacher and -staff ratio that Lane says helps build relationships, support and trust with students.
Starkweather also offers a daily academic support class to give students time during the school day to catch up or complete makeup work, take part in class work outside of the school or accelerate credits. That Starkweather flexibility is inspiring students to learn and thrive, Lane said.
“I love the environment at Starkweather - there is an emphasis on hands-on learning and my teachers are great,” said Rachel Deradourian, who will attend Schoolcraft College in the fall.
“My favorite thing about Starkweather is that our schedule allows me to better focus on three classes a day and the later start time is better for high school students - and I love my teachers,” said Kamari Pearson, who will study criminal justice at Adrian College starting in the fall and play on the Bulldogs football team. Pearson wants to work in law enforcement.
The academy prepares students for life after Starkweather with a required senior seminar focusing on students' post-secondary options - a program that helps provide a sense of laser-like direction for students.
Emily Bushey graduates with almost a full semester of college credits because of dual enrollment at Schoolcraft.
“The opportunities and connections at Starkweather are by far my favorite thing about the school,” she said. “I am grateful for the scholarship that I won from the Plymouth Rotary Club and will be attending Schoolcraft as a full-time student in the fall to continue studying to become an educator. My goal is to maybe one day return to Starkweather as a teacher,” Bushey said.
For 2023 graduates, Starkweather provided students with a sense of belonging, many said, along with the hope to pursue their goals.
“I love that my Starkweather teachers and staff are always supportive and genuinely care about me,” said Ashley Tanana, who will study for a degree in diagnostic medicine sonographyat Grand Valley State University. “Starkweather gave me a home.”
Tanana, Bushey, Pearson and Deradourian are among the 990-plus Plymouth Canton Community Schools graduates of 2023 who will go to a two-year or four-year college. More than 3 percent of 2023 graduates are joining the skilled trades professions and technical schools. The remaining graduates plan to enlist in the military or take a year off before deciding their next steps.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Monica Merritt urged the new graduates to continue to dream, create and innovate, telling them, “These words embody the essence of what it means to be a graduate of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Throughout your time here, you have been encouraged to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and pursue your passions with unwavering determination.”
At Starkweather, Lane said his students can pursue their passions, stay focused and feel accepted because of the small size and student-centered learning.
“These are great kids and there is no typical student,” Lane said. “Our students tend to be more accepting of others because they come to us as having a lack of success somewhere either academically or socially. We focus all our resources on supporting each and every student's success by getting to know and supporting students' individual needs and strengths to prepare them for the future.”
Merritt concurred, saying: “Graduates of Starkweather Academy worked hard all year and deserve credit for their amazing accomplishments. I'm excited to watch each of them continue on the path to success in their life's journey.”
District seniors from the other three high schools - Salem, Canton and Plymouth - graduated June 11, with ceremonies on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
Plymouth Canton Community Schools Board of Education member Patti McCoin said: “Plymouth-Canton Community Schools graduates of 2023 continue a tradition of success in the classroom and beyond. With our focus on providing a world class education for every student, our graduates are prepared and ready to thrive.”
