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After the last day of school, for the first time in Barratt Middle School’s 81-year history, the eighth-graders did not graduate.
They did have a ceremony at Penn’s Landing Caterers June 19, complete with whooping, applauding, awards and "Pomp and Circumstance." However, there were no caps, no gowns and no diplomas. Instead of calling it a graduation, the staff of Barratt, 16th and Wharton streets, dubbed the celebration "Eighth Grade Step-Up Day," reminding students of the challenges and accomplishments yet to come.
"Too many times, as I’m walking down the street, I see former students of mine hanging out on the corners," event organizer and eighth-grade teacher Jamie Merlino said. "I ask them what they’re doing there and they tell me they already graduated. These kids are 14, 15 years old, and they think they graduated."
Merlino said throughout her 10 years teaching at Barratt, there are at least a dozen mentions in the Review’s Police Report of teens who had attended her school — including eight former and current students that died this year.
"It has gotten to the point," she said, "that some of the students will flip to those pages before any others, to see if any of their friends were involved in something this week."
While Merlino and the rest of Barratt’s staff were brainstorming for ways to keep her students in school and out of trouble, they decided rewarding the kids for completing middle school was a mistake. Their focus should not be on the success of the past, Merlino said, but the rewards to come.
"In past middle school graduations, kids would show up in limos, there would be fights and it was always being blown way out of proportion," she said. "They’d make such a big deal about it that they’d think they were done school already, and we decided that was one aspect of the problem that we could put a stop to."
Last week’s Step-Up Day still included a gathering of the about 110 eighth-graders and their families and friends. There was a brunch, awards for outstanding accomplishments and a dance routine to R. Kelly’s "The World’s Greatest" that turned into an hour-long party to the beats of DJ Maurice. There were no staples of a traditional ceremony, but there was a constant emphasis on fun, on attending high school and the achievements that would come from continued learning.
Merlino recruited special guests, such as members from state Sen. Anthony Williams’ office and Kenyatta Johnson who is the CEO of Peace Not Guns Inc. and a graduate of Barratt. These men and women presented awards and preached a singular message: Stay in school.
"If I can be what I am today after growing up in South Philly," Johnson announced to the students, "I know for a fact that you young people can do just the same."
Johnson started his organization nine years ago after his cousin and friends were victims of youth violence on South Philly’s streets. Since then, he has helped thousands through community rallies, empowerment forums and speeches, like the one he gave to the Barratt youngsters.
Several students, such as Quassemah Cain and Trina Provost, were chosen by their teachers to say a few words to their fellow classmates. They, too, expressed the desire to continue their education and do proud the hopes and dreams of their teachers.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary," is how student Unique Williamston introduced her fellow classmates at the beginning of the ceremony, further echoing the theme of the day.
Some students were even offered savings bonds as awards for academic excellence, but there were two conditions: They must maintain a ‘C’ average throughout four years of high school and a "good standing in the community."
Although the event’s success cannot be determined quite yet — hopefully teachers won’t see any of these kids hanging on corners during the school day — the students treated the ceremony with the same fervor they would a customary graduation, including wildly screeching for Merlino as she stepped to the podium to deliver her own "Improvement" awards to students she felt had made great strides over the last year.
"It was a bit jarring at first," eighth-grade teacher Gordon Hall said. "Since Barratt has been around for so many years, and it’s hard to change traditions in those circumstances. But Jamie did an outstanding job with it, and the kids absolutely jumped on board in the best way."
It has not yet been determined if Step-Up Day will become a Barratt tradition for future graduates at the school, which houses about 500 students in grades five through eight, but Merlino is certainly optimistic.
"So many people came up to me afterwards and told me it was the best thing that ever happened to them," she said. "It was an amazing experience, and I hope this is the first of many — the start of a tradition, not just for us, but for public schools throughout the city.
"I’d love to do it again."
