Girls’ High alumnae back principal who denied diplomas for dancing across the graduation stage

Hundreds of Girls’ High alumnae have spoken: They’re backing the school’s principal.

The school found itself in the spotlight when its principal denied at least two graduates their diplomas for their conduct as they walked across the stage at graduation. Hafsah Abdul-Rahman danced and an audience member laughed, and Saleemah Burch flipped her hair and made a gesture, and someone clapped.

Officials had warned students that any audience noise would result in a student’s diploma being withheld initially.

» READ MORE: Girls’ High denied a graduate her diploma because she danced across the stage

The alumnae association, in a statement, said its members “fully support” principal Lisa Mesi. “She is a compassionate leader and outspoken advocate for our little sisters. We are fortunate to have her shepherding our alma mater through incredibly difficult years — through city-wide budget cuts, policy changes and a global pandemic that magnified every obstacle the faculty, administration and our dear little sisters have faced.”

The alumnae association called the characterization of the situation “headline grabbing and click bait” and said the focus on Abdul-Rahman and others who did not receive their diplomas “does not reflect in any way the overall tone and tenor of the day. “At the onset — and previously shared with all students, families, and other attendees — Principal Mesi clearly communicated the guidelines and regulations for the ceremony with an added dose of warmth and humor.”

Still, the alumnae association said, it was “open and available to work with the school community as they continue to examine and evolve our traditions.”

Barbara Dowdall, a 1964 graduate of Girls’ High and active member of the alumnae association, said Mesi’s “instructions were given, over and over and over again, and they were clear. This is not just devotion to the rules, it’s devotion to your classmates. If the principal hadn’t responded right then, would we have had 40 people doing dances?”

School system officials have publicly disagreed with the principal’s actions, saying that “the district does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates. We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”

School board president Reginald Streater went a step further.

“We should not let non-material antiquated norms preclude moments of inclusive joy that often follow moments of achievement/recognition,” Streater said in a statement to The Inquirer.