The Junior Ring ceremony is a special event in every Poly student’s time at the school. It is a tradition to commemorate the Junior’s transition from underclassmen to upperclassmen. The ceremony represents the class of 2026’s next step in their academic journey.
However, on the evening of Thursday, December 5th, the day before the Ring Ceremony, a major fire broke out one mile away from Poly. Therefore, Baltimore City Public Schools announced that Polytechnic Institute and Western High School will not be having school on Friday, December 6th, and added that there should not be any athletic practices and events happening on Friday or throughout that weekend near or in the school. Therefore, both the Ring Ceremony and Ring Dance were canceled for junior students and the disappointment was grand.
“As a class officer, finding out that these events would not happen as planned before was truly a shock.” Jabari Taliaferro, the class of 2026 secretary said. “Junior day was something that the class officer team had been planning for months and we were saddened and shocked that it is not going (according) to plan.”
“Our class advisors worked hard to move this event instead of canceling it because it’s so meaningful. Our Junior year is when we get our class rings and officially become upperclassmen; Junior day is when juniors get to dress up and be recognized throughout the day and specifically at the ceremony.”
Fortunately, Mr. Watson and Ms. Peace, the class advisors for the class of 2026, stated in a letter that was posted on the class of 2026 Google Classroom, that the Ceremony and Ring Dance was reschedule, reassuring the juniors that they will get their deserved events.
The letter stated, “Rescheduling has involved coordination between the school administration and vendors. It is not as simple as scheduling a week later. To avoid conflicts with other entities, vendors, and events within the school calendar, Junior Day will be January 17th and Ring Dance will be happening the 18th, 2025.”
