Daniel Wright Junior High School

Dear Daniel Wright Parents,

We acknowledge that some misleading information has been shared in the absence of official communication regarding the eighth-grade graduation celebration. The Daniel Wright staff, the administrators, the Superintendent, and the Board of Education have been working diligently to review current traditions to ensure they align with our goals and culture. During the brainstorming process…. some ideas may have been dispensed! We never intended to spur concerns or confusion. We have heard so many different rumors. We would like to set the record straight.

We love our traditions at Daniel Wright and would never want students to be upset about the possibility of changing them. Please rest assured, the staff at Daniel Wright value student voice and choice. The teachers have been brainstorming new creative ideas to share with graduates and are excited to invite students to help build the plan by offering input, and deciding what their traditions should look like.

Our current graduation tradition has held a special place in the hearts of many students both past and present. This tradition, which began in 2015, offers students the opportunity to ask one staff member from District 103 to present them with their diploma during the graduation ceremony. This has created some cherished memories for the honorary staff member, the student, and the family.

When I started as the interim principal at Daniel Wright, the teachers shared with me that they have been looking for new and exciting ways to acknowledge and honor our students as they move on to high school. The purpose of this discussion is to grow our traditions of recognizing and celebrating our students and staff. The teachers want to share some new ideas and are excited to hear from YOUR students and gather their input. Here is a slideshow summarizing some of those ideas.

8th grade parents and guardians, you are invited to review the slideshow with your students. The 8th grade teachers will be sharing it during FLEX tomorrow, December 14. After all of the feedback has been collected, 8th grade students will receive a link the evening of December 15 to review the information with their parents and vote on the ideas they like best, including the option to continue with the existing tradition of selecting a staff member to present them with their diploma at graduation. The results will be shared with students and parents on Monday, December 18, by 3:35 pm.

We place student belonging at the top of our priority list, and that means fostering and maintaining strong student and teacher relationships. We will always keep this as a foundational part of all Daniel Wright traditions.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your teachers or me with any additional questions, as we do truly value your feedback.

Thank you for your partnership!

Kendra Perri, Principal

Dr. Nina Nusbaum, Assistant Principal

Dr. Susan Baker, Assistant Principal

Mike Jerzyk, Dean of Students

The Eighth-Grade Daniel Wright Team