On Friday, March 13, the world as we knew it changed. We were preparing to cheer on our Girls Basketball team as they made another run at a State Championship. We were looking forward to Prom and the Spring sports season. We were getting ready for those beloved Smarter Balanced Tests. Senior class meetings were becoming more frequent as we worked through Graduation plans. Then, everything stopped.
This was supposed to be a year we remembered for all of the Class of 2020’s accomplishments in the classroom and on the court, field, mat, and stage. Our memories are sure to include all of those accomplishments, but now they will share the stage with a virus. For weeks we practiced “social distancing,” learned how to Zoom, figured out how to submit assignments in Teams, and tried our best to keep our minds busy without sporting events or concerts to look forward to.
When the weather finally began to warm up, our hopes of a normal Spring or Summer started to rise, only to be dashed by the continued isolation practices we needed to follow to keep ourselves and others safe. Our Senior Zoom meetings led us to an agreement – We want to have a normal graduation that includes a full ceremony with a gym packed with our friends and family. As we learned that a traditional ceremony may be out of reach, we put together a plan to provide as much of a graduation as possible. A virtual graduation. A car parade. We were trying to be creative and work together to make the best out of an unforeseen situation.
The class of 2020 deserves to be recognized and honored for their accomplishments. We will certainly do our best to complete a full graduation ceremony with a packed gym; we are not giving up. I am sad for you. I feel sorry for you. You deserve so much more. When I first met you in August of 2013 in the old Middle School gym, I had no idea how close to you I would become nor how important to me you would become. You are truly a special class that Lennox and I will never forget. You will accomplish great things! You have proven yourselves time and time again.
We will miss you!! We will always remember you!! You will always be welcome here!! Congratulations Lennox Oriole Class of 2020.