As June is quickly approaching, so is the long-anticipated graduation ceremonies. Many parents and seniors have been concerned as to what COVID-19 means for the traditional commencement ceremonies.
The “Drive-Thru” Plan
As of May 26th, Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) publicly released an official announcement as to what the plans for High School Commencement ceremonies.
The in-person graduation ceremonies will “utilize a drive-through format and will be held at each high school site…graduates will receive a diploma and any honor cords and medals…and will have an opportunity to have a professional photographer take their photograph.”
Redwood’s commencement ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 4th. Students have a certain time slot based on their last name.
Each graduate is only allowed one car so this obviously limits the number of friends and family that will be there for the student in person and only the graduate is allowed out of the vehicle. The commencements will be monitored by the Visalia Police Department.
Each of the commencement ceremony will be broadcast on local television channel KSEE24.
Student responses and concerns
On May 26th, about 40 seniors within VUSD stood together in protest in front of the VUSD office. Wearing their caps, gowns, and masks, they held up posters and signs demanding a “better graduation option.”
Among the protesters were Karis Ramage, ’20, and Chloe Schultz, ’20.
“Compared to all other districts, it seems if VUSD is doing the bare minimum and we just want the same opportunities that other schools are having when it comes to different types of graduation,” said Ramage.
Schultz was very upset with the “compromise” that VUSD came up with for graduation and considered it “pretty lazy.”
“Of course we appreciate them for putting anything up at all for us…any way we do it, there is still the same chance of catching the virus.”
“I think its unfair that VUSD is almost the only district that is doing drive by graduations. If anything, Tulare County as a whole should say no graduation or a ceremony on a later date.
Chloe Schultz, Redwood graduating senior
Although Michael Meza, ’20, did not attend the protest, he too was upset with the plans for a drive through graduation.
“Nothing will be like the real deal but, I feel like the current graduation plan could’ve been thought out a lot better…Families like mine where our parents are divorced or whatever the occasion may be, are limited. We’re only allowed one vehicle per senior. We have schools across the country making their seniors’ graduation as memorable as possible. We should have a better graduation.”
“I feel like there could have been more effort but into our graduation. We all look forward to our graduation ceremony as a last chance to be together as a class of 2020 and be able to share that special day all together,” said Monique Villa, ’20.
“I feel sad and heartbroken and as though our voices did not matter to the VUSD Board.”
Monique Villa, Redwood graduating senior
Her idea of an alternate plan looks like “A graduation with social distancing guide lines in place, students walk 6 feet apart, and each student only invite a certain amount of guests who will also be spread out 6 feet apart.”
This idea was a reflection of Exeter’s graduation last week where students walked 6 feet apart but had the opportunity to all graduate together. This was the catalyst that sparked conversation around Visalia.
Opposing views
On the other hands, students don’t see a “better graduation” as that big of a deal during a time like this.
Brian Brown, ’20, says, “I respect the idea of trying to get something better for our graduating class however I feel that they went in with no clear intention of what they wanted…this situation is far more complex then us getting a graduation. Yes we worked hard, earned and deserve a graduation but it puts countless lives at risk.”
“If me, not having a normal graduation can save a countless number of lives then I don’t need a normal graduation.”
Brian Brown, ’20, a graduating Redwood senior
Another senior, Jusmen Kahlon, ’20, said, “Honestly I disliked their protesting because they’re blaming the wrong people, it’s not the district’s fault we can’t walk for graduation, it’s Coronas…the district is just following safety precautions.”
VUSD students are also comparing the current plan to that of Clovis and Fresno School Districts that plan to hold a graduation on a later date.
Visalia Unified has decided not to promise something like this because it is uncertain what the protocols and state policies will be in months from now. And it is also uncertain how many students would be able to attend an in-person graduation if they attend an out of state college or join the military.
VUSD’s plan for commencement ceremonies still stands and will take place in June.
I really liked how Krissy included everything in this Article. There were current plans, alternative plans, graduates that were okay with last years graduation, and graduates that were unhappy. All around this looked pretty solid to me. There isn’t anything I would add or remove, everything was valid.