COVID 'Survivalists': Graduating class gets normal graduation after two years of COVID
Just as spring turns into summer, another class of high school seniors will turn into graduates with the 2021-22 school year ending.
As they all don their caps and gowns and try not to trip as they walk into pomp and circumstance echoing around them, there can be a range of emotions.
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Some are happy to be done while others may cry as memories flood back in, but several school administrators say this year is different than most.
After COVID changed the past two years, including taking away several traditions from this year’s graduating class, administrators across Ashland, Wayne and Holmes counties say the class of 2022 is very grateful for the return of a traditional graduation.
Traditions make it back to graduation
Countless prom traditions, such as grand marches and after-prom parties, returned this year and graduation ceremonies are seeing the same trend.
COVID guest restrictions are a thing of the past for many schools, like Triway and Crestview Local Schools, that are allowing students to bring as many guests as they want.
For the schools that had to set limitations, like Waynedale High School, which had to move its ceremony inside due to the weather, limited space was the driving force.
Live music from school groups along with personal goodbyes, such as high fives and hugs, are things Waynedale Principal Richard Roth couldn’t be happier to see returning.
“It sounds trivial, but the ability to be able to hug our seniors is more relaxing to the kids than ‘Hey, this is normal,’ ” Roth said. “And it feels more personal to shake hands and to hug them and we’re back to all of that.”
'Survivalists’ after two years of COVID
Hugs and handshakes are not the only thing students are excited for as Roth said both staff and students were happy they did not have the looming concern that graduation was going to be taken away like it had been two years ago.
“I heard a number of times talking with the seniors... how nice it was that they didn't have to worry about that (cancellation),” Roth said. “They just knew graduation was going to happen, and they were actually pleased with that.”
After two years of cancellations, remote learning and various other adjustments with COVID, Crestview Local Schools Superintendent Jim Grubbs said this year’s graduating seniors should be congratulated for more than just graduating.
“Half of their high school career has been dealing with COVID, no other group has ever done that,” Superintendent Jim Grubbs said. “And at the end of the day, our kids need to be commended for being survivalists in a way. They've endured it and they came out stronger people and so I'm proud of our kids.”
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Memorial weekend brings graduations galore
With the end of the school year approaching, at least 12 schools will be hosting their graduation ceremonies over Memorial Day weekend.
West Holmes, Black River and Loudonville-Perrysville will all host their graduations Friday, May 27, and Dalton, Rittman and Hillsdale are hosting their ceremonies on Saturday, May 28.
Sunday, May 29 will see the most graduations with a total of six graduations across the area including Smithville, Norwayne, Northwestern, Orrville, East Holmes and Mapleton.
Ashland City, Wooster City and New London will be the last school districts to host graduation ceremonies with their dates being June 4 for Ashland and June 5 for Wooster and New London.
More information regarding the times, locations and number of tickets allowed per graduate can be found by calling each high school or looking on the website.
Reach Rachel Karas at rkaras@gannett.com
On Twitter: @RachelKaras3
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: High school graduates happy to have normal graduation after pandemic
