Principal Jeffrey Palumbo met with all four classes this week, emphasizing the need to modify the culture of SVPHS. At Tuesday’s senior class meeting, Palumbo brought up the five essentials — no food and drink, no cellphones, no swearing, and proper uniform,, the upcoming classes and graduation.

His goal was not to ruin the final two months of senior year. That said, he proclaimed hallway behavior needs to change. The senior class needs to set an example for the other three classes.

Palumbo also brought up student behavior in front of the visiting shadows. He said that there have been many times where shadows have told their parents they wouldn’t consider coming to Pallotti because of the way the loud, boisterous behavior in both halls and classes students over the last three or four years, in part because of the atmosphere.

Uniforms have also played a part in parents not wanting to send their children here. The prospective parents have said that the students sometimes look sloppy and not ready for school. Palumbo stated that seniors need to take initiative and set an example for underclassmen and shadows.

Palumbo has not only turned his attention to the students but also to the teachers. He spoke with the teachers about applying the rules in the hallways and also in their classrooms. The rules of not eating, no phones, and especially no headphones have recently been enforced in more classrooms. Some teachers have taken a different approach to enforcing the rules.

Wanting to keep the good vibes in their classrooms, but also wanting to follow the orders their superior has given them, Amy Belinky, for instance, said that she knows how well students work with music so she will continue to play music out loud to follow the no headphone rule.

Most of the senior class have come to the common agreement that it’s too late to try and enforce the rules that they’ve become accustomed to not following. Palumbo said that if the behavior doesn’t change that graduation will be affected. Saying, “it’s an honor and a privilege to be able to walk across the stage and accept your diploma”.

Some of the senior class was swayed by him saying that but most kept their stances on saying, “changing the rules this late won’t help.”