A Note of Thanks to our Perry Hall Community

I have been reluctant to insert myself into the events that occurred after the shooting at Perry Hall High School because there is so much work that needs to be done by police, legal authorities, educators, and counselors. But now that a few days have passed, I do want to say a few words. 

 

On the morning of the shooting, I walked from our house to Perry Hall High School. I will always remember the calm procession of students from the high school out to Ebenezer Road and eventually toward Perry Hall Square, where they waited for transportation home. Our police and faculty did an amazing job in an extraordinarily difficult situation.

Jesse Wasmer, the guidance counselor who took quick action on Monday, is a genuine hero who saved countless lives.

It pains me to such a tragedy at any school, let alone my alma mater. But the expression of love and support since Monday's shooting reminds me of something very special about Perry Hall: this is a big community with a small town heart. We have our problems, and it is very easy to gripe about this or that; I do it myself sometimes. But there is a larger Perry Hall community that pulls together during tough times. We are all praying for the speedy recovery of Daniel Borowy.

So in closing, I would like to thank everyone who took quick action on Monday, and all those who are working to bring a sense of closure and recovery for our Perry Hall community.

Perry Hall High School's 50th Anniversary

2013 will mark Perry Hall High School's fiftieth anniversary.   The original location was what is now Perry Hall Middle School.   When that place became too crowded, the school system constructed the current high school down Ebenezer Road and converted the first building into a junior high school.

The Perry Hall High coat of arms.

I am very proud to have graduated from Perry Hall High School, and am actually the first alumnus to serve on the Baltimore County Council.   Today, I went back to be interviewed for a documentary that will be unveiled at a banquet in 2013. 

My years at Perry Hall High School were a half a lifetime ago, not only for me but almost a half-lifetime in the history of the school.   In 1987, when I entered PHHS, our community was in the middle of a housing boom.   Farms were being plowed under for new housing developments, and plans were underway for new highways like Honeygo Boulevard that would shuttle cars to White Marsh Mall, then only six years old.  The mall was the hangout for teenagers on Friday and Saturday nights.  The closest movies were at Golden Ring Mall.

My memories of high school are of cross-country competitions and marching band trips, It's Academic outings and Homecoming parades.  Perry Hall High School has always been a big school, and its population then was about 1,800 students (500 less than today).  But despite the size, there was a feeling of pride and togetherness that drew the school and community together.

Today's principal, George Roberts, has brought back the history and traditions that were largely ignored by previous administrators.   I am very happy he and Assistant Principal Steve Arnold are heading up an anniversary committee.   Several events are currently being planned.  If you are interested, stop by the meeting on Monday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library.