As veteran educator Virginia Clevenger’s final days at Communications High School near an end, a pressing question looms: How will Clevenger’s absence affect CHS?
The health and fitness teacher has taught at Communications since its very beginning, and has had a large impact on how the school operates today. Clevenger is a key figure in many CHS traditions, whether it be dressing up as a senior for Halloween, or most notably the senior flag tradition in the cafeteria.
Starting during December of every school year, flags with all different colleges, mascots and student’s names are seen hanging on the walls of the cafeteria, signifying all the universities that CHS seniors have been accepted into. Clevenger began this tradition and has kept it going for over a decade. The flags are seen year after year, and, by the end of April, almost completely cover the perimeter of the cafeteria.
Considering Clevenger is the only person who manages the college flags, one may wonder what will happen to the custom after her retirement. Fellow CHS health and fitness teacher Jennifer Baldaccini is not only at a loss for who will carry on the tradition, but wonders if it will continue at all. Earlier in the school year, some drawbacks were brought to attention by the senior class regarding the tradition’s unforeseen conditions. Many believe the display of what colleges a student’s peers were accepted to evokes unnecessary stress and competition.
“I have thought about it, I don’t know. I know last year there were a lot of opinions if it adds extra stress, and [seniors] don’t know if they want it,” Baldaccini said. Baldaccini continued that she plans to get student input on whether the tradition should live on, or if it creates too much contention for the seniors. “I would honestly like a poll. Do people want to have the tradition continued? If so, we can continue it, if not, then we won’t,” she said.
While Baldaccini mentions that Clevenger has not formally “bequeathed” the tradition to anyone yet, she asserts that her or any other faculty member would be more than willing to take over the responsibility.
She confidently said, “I’m sure one of us would step up to the plate.
