The Pepperell High School class of 2010 held a special "Handprint Pledge" ceremony at the school making a commitment to graduate in four years.  The ceremony was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning in the school's new auditorium.  This is one of many efforts Pepperell and other county high schools are making to improve the graduation rate. 

Several senior students addressed the class of 2010 and gave them tips on traversing the four years of the high school experience.  Steven Pruitt, a senior at PHS, told the freshman that quitting on their education will affect them for a long time.  Pruitt said, "If you quit on something as important as your education it can set a pattern for the rest of your life."

The freshman students all contributed hand prints to seal their pledge to finish what they have started.  The hand prints were printed on a large banner displayed on the auditorium stage during the ceremony.  The large handprint banner, which was printed by Lamar Outdoor Advertising, will be placed on a wall at the school.  The school will add another banner each year as a new class enters the school.  "We plan to take the banner to the forum for graduation in 2010," said Phil Ray, principal of PHS.

Pepperell High instituted a Freshman Academy with the opening of the new high school facility this year.  The Freshman Academy is a wing of the school dedicated to the freshman class.  Most freshman classes and activities will be held in the Freshman Academy wing giving the young students more of an identity, more support and less interaction with the older students on campus.  Small versions of the Handprint Banner have also been donated by Lamar Advertising for each classroom in the Freshman Academy .