One town, two classes

Glacier graduates its first group of seniors to Flathead's 111th

Excitement is typical in high school hallways in June as students, particularly seniors, look forward to the end of the school year.

But seniors at Glacier High School are looking forward to graduation on Saturday perhaps more than most of their peers elsewhere.

They make up the school's first graduating class, and their exhilaration is nearly palpable.

"There is a lot of excitement in the air," Principal Callie Langohr said. "It's at a new level of excitement and anticipation."

While this is Glacier's second year of operation, students in the Class of 2009 are the school's first graduates. Last year's seniors remained at Flathead High School, making the Class of 2008 Kalispell Public Schools' last united group of graduates.

Despite the momentous occasion a school's first commencement presents, Langohr said she doesn't feel any undue pressure to put on a spectacular ceremony in the Glacier High gym.

"We're going to do that anyway, whether it's the first one or the 10th one," she said. "We want to make it the best possible day for our seniors."

WHILE GLACIER is celebrating its first graduation, Flathead will send off its 111th senior class.

For Flathead, Saturday's commencement ceremony presents a welcome opportunity to have graduation at the school, something that hasn't happened since 2000. The ceremony twice was held at Rawson Field (now Legends Stadium) and for the last six years has been at Majestic Valley Arena.

"We're excited to be having graduation back at Flathead High School," Principal Peter Fusaro said. "The kids have been part of … Flathead for at least three years. Many of them have been here for four.

"It's nice to have graduation at your own home."

Both ceremonies are student-led, a longtime tradition at Flathead that will be carried on at Glacier. The schools held tryouts, overseen by student committees, for speakers and musicians.

"We try to get as many seniors involved in the program as we possibly can," Fusaro said.

While the ceremonies will share some similarities, each graduation will be unique. Seniors at both schools played an important role in creating the schools' psyches after the split, and their graduations will reflect that.

"When I look back, with all things considered, the Class of 2009 has endowed Glacier High School with the most important lasting legacy: a school personality," Langohr said. "We could not have asked for more, and for this we thank them dearly."

Glacier's is the first graduation ceremony of the day. Commencement begins at 11 a.m.; the gym doors open at 9 a.m.

There are 874 parking spots on campus and 235 graduating seniors. For those who don't want to take their chances in the school parking lot, Glacier will provide shuttle service from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two buses will run in a continuous loop from the Flathead Valley Community College parking lot to Glacier's north doors.

There are a total of 3,250 seats in the gym, including handicap seating. Concessions will be available in the lobby beginning at 9 a.m. The senior slide show and high school band will provide entertainment beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Flathead's ceremony begins at 3 p.m. The doors open at 1:30 p.m. Parking is limited at the school; once the lots fill up, guests will have to park on the street.

"If you want a good parking spot, come a little bit earlier," Fusaro said.

For early birds and others in need of refreshment, the school will have limited concessions available. The senior slide show will play from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and the high school band will play from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

The bleachers can hold 2,200 people. There will be seats on the gym floor for Flathead's 305 graduates and some family members and guests. Handicap seating will be available.

If the gym is too hot for some people, or if a parent wants to take a fussy child out of the room without missing the ceremony, they can watch graduation on two TV screens in the commons area. The ceremony also will be broadcast in the auditorium.

"People are welcome to move around," Fusaro said.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com