Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Rant West Seattle High School Graduation Location
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October 26, 2012 at 3:08 am #605329
CindertangParticipantWhy is the location for West Seattle’s graduating seniors being held at chief Sealth’s football field instead of down at the Seattle center where its been held for the past twenty five plus years?
October 26, 2012 at 3:33 am #775123
mehud7ParticipantHave you tried calling WSHS to ask?
October 26, 2012 at 3:54 am #775124
CindertangParticipantYes did that, If they want to make a new tradition keep it in West Seattle at the Stadium.
October 26, 2012 at 4:44 am #775125
BonnieParticipantAnd what did they say? You said you called but you didn’t say the reason.
October 26, 2012 at 6:07 am #775126
DBurnsParticipantSouthwest Athletic Complex (SWAC) has been designated as WSHS’ new home field this year so maybe they chose it for graduation so that the WSHS community would start to familiarize with it, or maybe they don’t have to pay since it’s their field… It seems kind of nice to have it close by in West Seattle, but unfortunately the acoustics could be a problem – we almost had Denny Graduation there when Sealth was being renovated, but chose not to because we couldn’t hear a thing! Hope that has been improved so Graduation is great. I always wondered why Sealth did it at Memorial every year instead of there… I’d love to know what anyone finds out!
October 26, 2012 at 11:50 pm #775127
CindertangParticipantI spoke with the school and they informed me that they are moving it to Swac because it is easier to access.She went on to say some of the faculty were missing out on the graduation ceremony because they could not get down there in time. I was also told they did not feel it necessary to inform the community as it is a school district issue not a community one. I told them that Memorial Stadium is a West Seattle High School tradition and they told me we need to start new ones. The activity coordinator was kind of snotty and told me that I should talk to the principal but she would not be available as she is in meetings all day, so I have yet to talk to her. I feel it would be wonderful to have the graduation in West Seattle so we all have a little easier access (Memorial Stadium can be a pain when it comes to parking) but why not have it held at West Seattle Stadium instead of the old run down SWAC!! I guess the largest issue for me is that they did not take the time to involve our community in our children’s graduation decisions.I dont know about you but its very special to me. Having West Seattle graduation at Chief Sealth is like having a Seahawks VIP celebration at The Oakland Raiders field!!!My eighteen year old son who is graduating this year is greatly disappointed at the changes West Seattle High School has made this year (including the cancellation of the french class trip to France) and now his graduation is being held at a rundown old field, HAPPY GRADUATION:(
October 27, 2012 at 12:23 am #775128
hopeyParticipantI’m confused. Didn’t the SWAC get completely overhauled and renovated in the past couple of years? Roughly the same time as the Denny/Sealth construction?
October 27, 2012 at 1:11 am #775129
JanSParticipantoh, good grief..just be glad they’re graduating !
October 27, 2012 at 1:14 am #775130
JanSParticipantCindertag…have you been by the field recently?It’s redone, up to date, and extremely nice. My daughter graduated WSHS in 1999. Graduation was inside at the old arena where they had ice hockey….I was still proud of her !
October 27, 2012 at 1:24 am #775131
BonnieParticipantSo, is the real issue is that you don’t want your kid to graduate at SEALTH. Don’t want to do that!
October 27, 2012 at 1:52 am #775132
brewParticipantSWAC is one of the nicest Athletic complexes in the city (our little gem!) and is far better than Memorial Stadium, except seating capacity. West Seattle Stadium would be a very poor choice as it turns to mud when it gets wet (it’s not synthetic turf).
October 27, 2012 at 2:30 am #775133
singularnameParticipantIf the principal contacts you on this issue, I … well, I guess I wouldn’t be surprised, given the challenges in addressing “real” issues, like academic and violence nightmares that occur daily at WSHS.
Having just celebrated with our family’s first-gen Seattle graduate, we though it bizarre it was at Memorial Stadium, but hey … we just went with it. Small potatoes really.
October 27, 2012 at 2:44 am #775134
SJoyParticipantSWAC – old and run down??? Really???? More than Memorial Field???? Seriously???
As a parent who had a child graduate from WSHS in 09 at Memorial Stadium and one that will graduate in 16 from WSHS, I have absolutely no problem with my second son graduating at the SWAC field. Much easier to get to.
Unfortunately they have made SWAC West Seattle’s home field because the private schools have more or less “bought out” West Seattle Stadium. It is very sad and unfortunate because for football – that is where WSHS should be playing, not Odea or Seattle Prep. However, for graduation itself, Brew is absolutely correct, if it rains it will be completely muddy and unacceptable for graduation with nice clothes and heals, etc…
Bottom line – WSHS and Sealth share SWAC field now. Get used to it, because it will probably be that way for a long time. Sad but true.
October 27, 2012 at 3:20 am #775135
NativeToSeattleParticipantWest Seattle Stadium does not belong to the school district, it is part of the Seattle Parks Department. Therefore any school has the right to rent it. There is no reason that a public school has more of a right to it than any other school in the city. All of the families pay taxes.
October 27, 2012 at 4:17 am #775136
kootchmanMemberHaving visited the charter schools thread.. this says it all… this is the attitude of SPS. Then they whine and cry “no parental involvement” “declining community support” Maybe the community that pays the taxes wanted to celebrate the community victory.. high school graduates! Maybe a single, retired, widowed, childless taxpayer wanted to bask a bit in the achievements and celebrate too.. for the community effort that made it possible?
“I was also told they did not feel it necessary to inform the community as it is a school district issue not a community one.”
Comments?
October 27, 2012 at 5:55 am #775137
WSBKeymasterSince we cover high-school football, we’ve gone to all the stadiums – the various “regional athletic complexes” including SWAC, Memorial Stadium downtown, and West Seattle Stadium. Per co-publisher Patrick, who is responsible for much of the coverage, SWAC is much nicer. Including the restrooms. Just a note. Also, just to be clear, it’s not part of Sealth, any more than Hiawatha Community Center’s fields are part of WSHS. It’s across the street, but not part of the campus.
For what it’s worth, also, the decision is not new. I covered both public high schools’ kickoff PTSA meetings this year. At the end of the WSHS PTSA report (were you at the meeting?) , the principal mentioned that the graduation would be at SWAC this year.
West Seattle High School: ‘Big gains’ in test scores, and more, revealed @ PTSA meeting
I had noticed that on the schedule earlier in the month, for both schools, and put it in the WSB calendar.
Last year getting to Memorial Stadium downtown was so logistically challenging because of traffic/parking issues, one of the local schools’ bands didn’t even make it.
Anyway, get involved with the PTSA and see what their thoughts were about it. Nobody jumped up and said WHAT? when the principal mentioned it at that meeting. But if there is widespread parental sentiment against it, I’m sure a lobbying campaign can be mounted for next year – IF it’s not already scheduled.
I personally wondered why the graduations had both been happening downtown. We started covering them in 2008 and Sealth that year was at SWAC. Beautiful sunny day.
-TR
October 27, 2012 at 6:21 am #775138
brewParticipantJust a clarification to TR’s post, SWAC and Memorial Stadium are owned by the Seattle School District. West Seattle Stadium, Hiawatha, Delridge, etc. is owned by the Parks Department. That is also the reason you may see some private schools use West Seattle Stadium as their Home field.
October 27, 2012 at 6:58 am #775139
WSBKeymasterI know Hiawatha is owned by the Parks Dept. and SWAC is owned by Seattle Public Schools. Nonetheless, calling SWAC part of Sealth makes no more sense than suggesting Hiawatha’s adjacent fields are part of WSHS. Next to SWAC, Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool are part of Seattle Parks, though surrounded by school-district property (the ex-Denny site to the west is now part of SWAC) . Other adjacencies include Alki Playfield (Parks)/Elementary (SPS)/Community Center (Parks), Pigeon Point Park (Parks)/Pathfinder K-8 (SPS), and so on.
***One more factor that hasn’t come up here: Memorial Stadium is not long for this world anyway. It is scheduled for “redevelopment” that has been on the drawing boards for years and might actually start sometime within the next few. However clunky the delivery, perhaps that’s what the person quoted as saying “we need to start new (traditions)” meant.
TR
October 27, 2012 at 5:34 pm #775140
CindertangParticipantJust a note….When I spoke with West Seattle High School I was told it was not the new compound it was the old one. I specifically ask if it was the field across from Westwood Town Center and was told no it is the old compound on Thistle and she went on to say it HAD NOT been remodeled. I will continue to seek specifics and update you when I find out anything new. Thank you all for your information.
October 27, 2012 at 5:41 pm #775141
CindertangParticipantAnd to all…Of course I am happy that my son is graduating but when he comes home disappointed because they have made these changes. It makes it frustrating because he has worked so hard to get here and as a parent I want it to be a positive and enjoyable experience for his senior year. I guess the main point is the districts lack of communicating these changes to not only the parents but the students to whom this is affecting!
October 27, 2012 at 7:55 pm #775142
me on 28th Ave SWParticipantHaving spent time sitting on the bleachers in the stadiums at SWAC, WS stadium and Memorial stadium please believe me when I tell you that WS stadium and Memorial do not even come close to the more modern SWAC. The parking availability for families and friends is leaps and bounds better than the other two stadiums as well. SWAC is also much better for elderly family members (closer walk from parking to stadium)than Memorial or WS. Our son’s graduation was at Memorial stadium 2 years ago and it was a pain. The travel time to and from the stadium during rush hour traffic and then back to West Seattle for a family celebration all before Grad Night began was very limiting. I think this will be a huge relief to many families, whatever the reason for the decision.
October 27, 2012 at 10:30 pm #775143
GinaParticipantArena graduations were THE WORST. Someone or many someones passing out from lack of air and the crush of bodies. Memorial Stadium isn’t that much better. And the huge traffic backups. Avoiding Mercer St. and having the event in West Seattle can only be a plus. There are 2 public high schools in West Seattle. Why shouldn’t they both use the same place for graduation? Or is it a dislike of the southern portion of West Seattle. The graduation ceremony only takes about 2 hours. Thank goodness I don’t need to battle my way to the Seattle Center for any more family graduations!
October 28, 2012 at 3:08 am #775144
DBurnsParticipantSorry if this is getting old but I’m still confused about the idea that SWAC is run down in any way. Are you sure you’re clear about the field? It’s actually really nice, especially in June!
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