Where do we go from here?
This past week Governor Ricketts declared that all schools in Nebraska are to operate without students in the building through May 31, and then almost simultaneously Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) cancelled all extracurricular activities during that same time period. These guidelines will be followed by Chase County Schools. The District will continue in the school closure mode of enrichment learning for the students through the rest of the current school year.
This brings my thoughts to the most important topic of a school year, and that is graduation for the outstanding young adults in the “Class of 2020.” The anticipation of the importance of the year “2020” has subliminally been planted by wanting “20/20 vision” and the show, ABC News 20/20. This term is derived from visual acuity which is the ability to comprehend, to understand and to profit from experience.
The patrons at Chase County Schools have enjoyed watching the growth of these young adults for several years. These developmental years at school have created valuable lessons which will help these seniors succeed in the future.
I am going to expound upon some thoughts from Tawana Grover, Grand Island Public School Superintendent. It has been tough for school districts to think about how drastically this the final year of “Class of 2020” has been altered due to the coronavirus.
It is even tougher to imagine a graduation ceremony in which students are not physically present and where everyone will not get a chance to hug, shake hands and look in the eyes of senior graduates on their May 9 graduation day.
As all of us have witnessed and observed this pandemic spike, we realize that not only is it about whether we have prepared our graduating seniors up to this point, but our task is so much more. We understand that it is about how we prepare them and keep them safe during this pandemic and that they will have a chance at living out their future plans and dreams.
Since a traditional graduation ceremony cannot be held on May 9, the administration, senior sponsors, senior students and parents held a Zoom meeting on April 2 to discuss options that could appropriately honor the seniors of 2020.
A graduation video with attached SENIOR slide show will be created that replicates a traditional graduation ceremony at Chase County Schools. The graduation video will be aired on Chase County Schools Website/Facebook and possibly the radio station at a date to be determined.
Several other ideas brought up in the meeting, which will be considered, are: traditional graduation at a later date; seniors/parents in vehicles parading the streets with patrons parking along the main street acknowledging them with screaming, honking and waving; on a car ceremony at fairgrounds (weather permitting), etc.
We want May 9 to be a very memorable day for the seniors of 2020! This milestone event is special not only to them, but their families. This uncertain pandemic situation is something that we can either grumble about or we can move forward with a positive approach of what a great day we could make this.
How do you want to recall this unforgettable moment in a few years?