A Reputation For Graduation Preperation

Two very special CB faculty members are setting the stage for a memorable graduation ceremony.

(photo courtesy Lisa Nottingham via Flickr Creative Commons)

Graduation is the culmination of one’s high school career. On Friday the 24th of May, Christian Brotherss beloved senior class of 2013 will be receiving their diplomas and head toward their promising futures. But before this joyous event, Mr. Tom English and Ms. Marian Shackel will be working tirelessly in order to ensure the graduation is a complete success.

As always, Mr. English has chosen the ceremony to take place within the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

“The graduations have traditionally always been held in the Memorial Auditorium, since long before I was even here,” says Mr. English. “It’s a very ornate facility and it provides for an attractive venue.”

“[The Memorial Auditorium] has a pretty significant seating capacity, so students can invite more people to graduation,” says Ms. Shackel.

An enormous amount of work and preparation is required by both of these amazing teachers. The senior family mass, which will take place this Sunday, and baccalaureate mass also require substantial efforts.

“The senior class council is currently planning the senior family mass, which kind of doubles as the award ceremony,” reveals the literature instructor. “The awards will honor our students achievements, with regards to the colleges they will be attending.”

With such a large task ahead of them, Mr. English and Ms. Shackel welcome the help of others when organizing graduation.

“There are a lot of people involved in the preparations, and Ms. Shackel and I are more like the point-people and are the organizers of the whole event,” the social studies instructor says. “There are about fifteen faculty members there before graduation setting up, and there are at least 30 to 40 faculty members at the end helping clean up and take everything done.”

Both of these teachers enjoy preparing graduation for senior classes and recognize the significance that graduation holds for CB students.

“I’ve been involved with graduation since the class of 1990, and when I was asked to do it I reluctantly said yes, and I’ve enjoyed doing it ever since,” says Mr. English. “Graduation is so important because it’s the culmination of your four years, it’s the statement that the students have lived up to the expectations of the school and are receiving a diploma.”

“Graduation is the moment at which students move from being high school students to being graduates; I know that sounds simplistic, but I don’t mean it as such,” explains Ms. Shackel. “It’s really a celebration and it’s really a ceremony for the parents to enjoy.”

In addition to their hard work put into prepping for graduation, Mr. English and Ms. Shackel continue to be outstanding teachers who are consistently there for Christian Brothers students. The CB community must recognize these two inspirational individuals for all of work for this school.