Photos courtesy of the Grandview Heights City School District
A lot can change in 100 years, but some things remain the same.
On May 24, Grandview Heights High School’s 100th class will graduate.
GHHS Principal Ken Chaffin says that though changes in location of the school, technological advances and curriculum, among others, have all occurred over the past 100 years, the core values remain consistent.
“Every day that I have spent as principal of Grandview Heights High School has helped me realize that what matters most are actually the things that have not changed in the past 100 years,” he says. “Relationships, ethic of caring and a sense of pride in being a part of something bigger than yourself are GHHS hallmarks.”
Chaffin credits the strong school system to the surrounding Grandview Heights community. With supportive families and teachers who value education and a commitment to excellence, Chaffin anticipates continued success for the future classes.
“Evidence of that support is the resounding way that our community has historically chosen to invest in the school district and future of their community when our school district needed to go to voters for a levy,” he says. “Strong communities are infinitely tied to strong schools, and vice versa. It is incredible to be a small part of something so special.”
This community is one that maintains an involvement in both GHHS and Grandview at large, says GHHS Alumni Association member and class of 1963 graduate Tom Smith. Smith notes all the different opportunities for alumni to continue their relationships with fellow GHHS graduates through events such as alumni luncheons every fourth Friday as well as the upcoming alumni march this July 4.
“We have developed countless student, community and alumni events in partnership with the Grandview Heights Alumni Association to celebrate 100 years throughout this school year,” Chaffin says. “On alumni night in the fall, we recognized alumni groups, distinguished individual alumni and even incorporated them into playing with the band (and) cheering with current GHHS cheerleaders.”
Smith enjoys these events, as well as the alumni organization, for the opportunities to reminisce and continue participating in school and city activities.
“We did an article just recently on the oldest living homecoming queen, and she’s 97 years old now,” Smith says. “A guy named Robert, class of ‘35, was a colonel in World War II. It’s really hard to believe those kind of ages.”
Smith says Grandview’s close-knit community is what keeps old and new generations connected far past the day they graduate from GHHS.
“The last few classes have had 85 people or less, so everybody has known each other from kindergarten on,” he says. “We’ve (also) got a number of fourth-generation people. I’ve got a friend whose grandmother graduated from Grandview in 1919; her mother graduated in 1941, she graduated in 1963 and her daughter graduated in 1984.”
As the festivities continue to celebrate this special day in Grandview’s history, Smith takes pride in his place as a GHHS alumni member and Grandview citizen.
“It’s just a beautiful community to live in,” he says. “I only see it getting stronger.”
Elizabeth Tzagournis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
