Items
topic_interest is exactly
Lost graduation
-
2020-06-25
DVUSD Letter to Parents Regarding 2020 Graduation
This letter is written by Dr. Curtis Finch, the Superintendent of Deer Valley Unified School District, one of the largest school districts in Arizona. The letter is addressed to the 2020 class of DVUSD high school graduates and their parents. Dr. Finch explains that graduation (which had already been postponed by a month) would need to be canceled due to new laws and policies. The letter ends with an encouraging note. This letter says multiple things about the pandemic. First, many people believed the situation would get better. This is shown by attempting to delay graduation by one month when in reality, the increasing cases due to the pandemic would continue much longer. Another message shown by the letter is that school staff, parents, and graduates were working to attempt to save milestones such as graduation in multiple different ways, but were not able to. -
2020-04-23
what to do after you graduate in a pandemic
This is an article talking about what someone should do after graduating from college in a pandemic. I felt this was an important article to include in this collection because not only is it important to know what the graduations were like but it is also important to know what someone did after graduation. Jobs were very hard to come by and unemployment was at an all time high during these times and after graduation usually someone goes and gets a job with that degree but with businesses closing it is hard to find one. This article gives tips and tricks on how to obtain a job during this pandemic as well. This article explains how any job is a good job in a pandemic which is very true. The article also explains that it is normal to feel discouraged at this time and to not give up. The pandemic will end and jobs will come back. -
2020-06-01
Drive Thru Graduation
During the Pandemic there was panic and indecisiveness around graduation, soon ideas began to flow in, while I was on my way home from work one day nearing when graduations were happening I saw a long line of cars driving by with 2020 balloons, ribbons and soap writing “congratulations”, “ Class of 2020”, and other celebratory slogans. I realized there was a graduation at one of the schools close by. This caravan had people stopped on the side of the road or driving by honking and cheering those students in the car! It was heartwarming because during all of this there came something good and pure. While I had no part in these kid’s lives, I hope being there honking along with others I gave them a memory that will last forever. I sure won’t forget that either. I found this picture, but did not take it, because I was driving it was not safe with so many other cars around, so I used a photo I found online. -
2020-06-23
A COVID Graduation
I found this story of an in-person graduation to be a bit tragic story. This is because people wanted to believe that COVID was simply ignored in some states. While living in NC we had people that felt that it was just too little risk to slow down large gatherings, we also had restrictions that prevented this exact behavior. I saw many people were doing graduations online, and some were just not even having graduations at all. But this article shows that there was an attempt to hold this ceremony with indications that people were maybe encouraged to wear masks, but they were not mandatory. While there is no indication of more COVID positive people after the graduation, there is a sense of dread to have to go be tested especially after what should be a cause for celebration. -
2020-05-10
Graduation 50 Years Apart
In this photo, I am holding a picture of my deceased grandfather while I'm dressed for my undergrad graduation that did not happen. I wanted to take a picture in my regalia on the campus that we both studied at, but due to the pandemic, I was forced to finish my undergrad degree at home. This photo in my regalia reminded me that I could not celebrate this accomplishment at the same place that my grandfather did only 50 years before. -
2020-05-22
The TRUST Graduation Guidelines
Guidelines from Cave Creek Unified School District's insurance provider, TRUST, concerning graduation ceremonies. CCUSD moved forward with the smaller ceremonies, even though social gatherings were not recommended by their insurance carrier, the CDC or AZ Health Department. TRUST issued these guidelines, which CCUSD followed. -
2020-05-13
Graduation Reimagined
Letter from our Principal, Jim Swetter, about the alternative graduation ceremonies for 2020 Cactus Shadows High School seniors. -
2020-05-22
The Masked Graduate
A photo of my son before his reimagined graduation ceremony at Cactus Shadows High School. Masks were required of all students and their 2 guests.