Every fall, as freshmen nervously navigate unfamiliar hallways and seniors prepare graduation speeches months in advance, one thing remains constant: tradition. Whether it’s the annual Senior Sunrise, Prom or the Powderpuff game, these common themes quietly influence how students see themselves, each other and their place in South’s history.
Throughout the history of South, Student Association (SA) prioritizes upholding traditions set by previous generations of students. Annual events like Adopt-a-Family
and the homecoming pep assembly have become integral parts of Grosse Pointe South’s identity and tradition as a school. Lucy Stidham ’25 is the current president of SA.
“I think tradition is really important when it comes to student association,” Stidham said. “I kind of touched base a lot with the president from last year to carry on tradition. Ms. Pierce has been the advisor for a very long time, so she knows what we usually do, it’s important to carry it on, because we’re trying to work on spirit, and at South, we really need tradition to continue what this building is about.”
Along with maintaining a tradition of high school spirit, Grosse Pointe South carries a reputation for being one of the best academic high schools in the state of Michigan. According to MI School Data, from 2023-2024, 82.36% of Grosse Pointe South students after graduation pursued a college education, which is about 20% higher than the national average provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2024. GPPSS superintendent Dr. Andrea Tuttle works to uphold the tradition of academic excellence.
“I have dedicated myself to upholding the traditions that distinguish Grosse Pointe,” Tuttle said. “Our community values a robust academic curriculum, as well as the athletics and fine arts programs enjoyed by generations. Our buildings, many of which are nationally designated historic sites, require upkeep to meet the needs of today’s learners, while still reflecting our community’s aesthetics.”
Providing students with opportunities to succeed and discover their passions has been a long-standing tradition at South. Art Department Chair and Ceramics teacher Thomas Szmrecsanyi is a South Alumnus who graduated in 1993 and returned to teach at his Alma Mater.
“When I originally became certified as a teacher, I went to work in the district of Farmington, and I had a really good job there,” Szmercsanyi said. “I liked the district, but I had realized after I’d been there for a while that I was probably never going to be able to make a program as comprehensive and as excellent as what I originally experienced as a student.”
When compared to other Michigan high schools, GPPSS has been able to provide more money per student than other districts. According to Michiganschooldata.org, Grosse Pointe Public Schools from 2023-2024 had a foundation allowance per student of $11,303, which puts them about $1,000 higher than the average Michigan high school. As a result of higher funding, GPPSS is able to provide a higher level of education to aid students.
“As a student, I gravitated towards visual art as an area of greater interest that I could be really serious about as a high school student,” Szmercsanyi said. “So in my freshman year, I took the prerequisite [visual arts] course. I did well, I enjoyed what I was doing, and I had the opportunity to take things further and further as a student. The funding of visual arts by the school system at that time helped me continue my passion.”
One way South is able to fund programs like the visual arts is through the Mothers’ Club. Through the Mothers’ Club’s Enrichment Committee, $22,000 was granted to support classrooms and other academic environments at Grosse Pointe South during the 2023-2024 school year. Mothers’ Club president Jennifer Kendall is the parent of a graduate and current student at Grosse Pointe South.
“Mother’s club works to keep the historical look of Grosse Pointe South, and support projects financially within the school building and through scholarships,” Kendall said. “We give about $65,000 to graduating seniors going off to college each year, and for the teacher enrichment program.”
This tradition of giving back to the community has impacted the community since South was established in 1928. Beyond scholarships and grant money, the Mothers’ Club also continues to foster Grosse Pointe South’s older Georgian colonial style through their preservation committee, created in 1990. In 1992, the group succeeded in getting South put on the Register of Historic Sites in Michigan. Grosse Pointe South Counselor Nicholas Bernbeck discusses how Grosse Pointe South’s preservation contributes to events like graduation.
“It adds to the general aesthetic of graduation,” Bernbeck said. “Your average high school doesn’t have the same look or history as this building, and I think embracing and showcasing that history adds to not just the students’ experience, but the experience of a parent or alumnus.”
The class of 2025 graduates this year on June 4 on South’s front lawn. Along with the traditions of hearing the choir and orchestra perform, the All-Night Party is most likely the last time the class of 2025 will see each other. Although many people spend the entirety of high school looking forward to events like the All-Night Party or Prom, not everyone shares that experience. Emily Forbes ’23 is a Grosse Pointe South graduate who decided against spending her time at Prom.
“I didn’t really see the appeal,” Forbes said. “While Prom is this giant meeting of everyone you went to high school with, my friends and I wanted to spend time with each other, not everybody. I also wanted to focus more on my future and life in college.”
While some students approached high school with a focus on academics, others embraced a more balanced perspective. Many students at Grosse Pointe South made their first friends in elementary school, going back as far as 13 years ago, and while events like Prom take away from academics, it’s often a celebration of our everyday lives since we were five years old.
“I thought of school as not just the stressful manner of focusing strictly on getting into college,” Stidham said. “I kind of just took it step by step, and made friendships that are going to last a long time, and just enjoying life, high school is not just entirely about pleasing your parents. It’s about being able to enjoy these small moments in life.”
