Congratulations to the Class of 2020

By Jeniffer Viscarra, Commissioner

(Tuesday, June 23, 2020) – A lot was asked of families and communities as we turned our homes into offices and classrooms as a result of COVID-19. A lot was asked of children who had to quickly adapt to schooling through a laptop. A lot was asked of parents who had to learn alongside their kids while making professional and personal adjustments of their own.

To complicate matters, many of our comforts were restricted in an effort to keep our residents healthy and safe. In recent weeks we have also experienced civil unrest as people all over the country exercise their right to protest. Amidst this chaos, our students persevered. As a result, we have many graduates to congratulate!

Our school and PTSA did an amazing job celebrating our kindergartners and 8th graders via drivethrough graduations. In addition, the City hosted a Grad and Go graduation for 8th and 12th graders at Gateway Park where students were able to drive up in decorated cars, see their names and photos on stage, and proudly pose for pictures with their families, friends, and even puppies.

Now that we are all experts in Zoom and other online gatherings, I’m sure many had their own more private celebrations with loved ones all over the world. Yes, there are still big, important issues to contend with, but let’s take a moment to praise our graduates and their families. A lot was asked of them this school year, and they delivered. May your strength and resilience light your way in all your future endeavors!