To whom it concerns: 

On behalf of The Valley Regional graduating class of 2022, we call on the Region 4 Board Of Education to exempt seniors with a grade above 90 from final exams. This exemption is not unheard of, many local schools practice it, one example being our neighboring, Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

 No graduating class in recent history has had a more difficult and unprecedented high school experience, the pandemic has undoubtedly worsened the mental health of all students across the school. Although the pandemic is coming to a close, students are still reeling from the effects of two years of altered learning experiences, and finals only compound this stress, in reality this opportunity can not be given to all students, but it makes perfect sense for the graduating seniors to be given an opportunity. 

It is understood that the administration would like to return to regular course load academic rigor, but what good is academic rigor to students who will put forth no effort? Students suffering from “senioritis” or “the senior slide” will be incentivized to take part in this academic rigor if it gives them an opportunity to be exempt from finals. As opposed to the current system in which many students do the bare minimum to pass the class. 

The class of 2022 has been part of countless “tests” and “pilots” from the administration ranging from over four different day schedules to new and different lunch/flex schedules. The administration and student body are accustomed to change following the pandemic, and therefore no class would better serve as a pilot for exemption from finals. Incentivizing finals not only motivates students to work harder in classes but also promotes mastery of content, a major basis of finals. 

To close, the graduating class of 2022 has incurred unprecedented struggles throughout their four years at Valley Regional. And it is my belief that we have earned the opportunity to grade out of finals, as aforementioned this practice is not revolutionary but instead a proven way to keep graduating seniors invested in the last weeks and months of their education.