As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school seniors around the world are struggling with the cancellation of their final semester of high school and the many events that are involved, including the possible cancellation of graduation.
Following the widespread closure of schools throughout Colorado and the rest of the nation, the Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, released an executive order regarding school closures and an advisory for graduation.
According to the Colorado Department of Education, the request by Governor Polis to withhold graduation ceremonies is not mandatory, and the decision will remain up to the Local Education Partnerships (LEPs) around the state.
“Governor Polis has asked schools to not hold graduation ceremonies and to find other ways to celebrate this important milestone. Graduation requirements across Colorado are locally determined by LEPs, which means that there is flexibility to adjust local graduation requirements by school districts and charter schools,” the CDC stated.
Sarah Strassburger, Assistant Principal at AHS, is planning on holding some form of a graduation ceremony and is hoping to have some alternative plans released by May 1st.
“The graduation plans are being determined by multiple stakeholders, certainly the district office in conjunction with Tharyn and I, and really it comes down to whatever the Pitkin County Health Department is recommending. That said, Tharyn and I are one hundred percent committed to celebrating graduation one way or another,” Strassburger said. “Although it might not be the traditional Benedict Music Tent, we’re preparing alternative possibilities. I don’t think we are looking at postponing, I think we are looking at celebrating it in real-time, and we will create a plan based on input from students, parents, and community stakeholders.”
Hadley Guilander, a senior at AHS, feels that graduation is a necessity for the end of high school and wishes for the local government to find a way to hold it some way or another.
“To me, graduation is a way of celebrating the 12 years of school we had to complete. For the majority of my life, I have been looking forward to graduation day. It is the beginning of transitioning into the world on your own, and I would rather have graduation postponed and not canceled. The fact that 12 years of my life have been dedicated towards this day and it might not happen makes me sad,” Guilander said.