Family members, friends, teachers, and school staff cheered inside the crowded multipurpose room at Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School as members of the 2016 graduating class proudly accepted their high school diplomas. A commencement ceremony on June 9 acknowledged the academic achievements of eight graduating students.
Principal Lauren Roth was assisted in presenting diplomas to the students by County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon, Deputy Superintendent Sue Stickel, Assistant Superintendent Robin M. Pierson, Ed.D., and County Board of Education Trustees Eleanor L. Brown, Ed.D., Greg Geeting, and Jacquelyn Levy. Senior class teacher Nicholas Papagiannopoulos also congratulated the students.
In addition to hard work inside the classroom, the 2016 Palmiter graduating class was also involved in community service projects which provided students with valuable life experiences. They participated in the Culinary Arts Program, the WorkAbility Program, the STEM Expo at William Jessup University, and were members of the team that took second place in the 2016 Academic Bowl competition. Family members, friends, mentors, school faculty, and staff applauded the graduates, then celebrated at a reception following the ceremony.
Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School provides education to special needs students with the primary disability of Emotional Disturbance (ED) in grades 7-12. The students are referred directly by local school districts that are unable to provide the more highly structured behavioral support program available at Palmiter. Students are provided with a standards-based educational program that is supported by a strong vocational/transitional/school-to-world emphasis.