- PLEASE EMAIL THE VAIL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THIS PETITION!!! -

Hello, my name is Bella and I am a senior at Andrada Polytechnic High school in the Vail unified school district. My classmates and I are taking on the new challenges of finishing out our last quarter of senior year at home and missing out on a lot of important moments. As a class, we understand how uncertain the world is right now with job loss and illness due to COVID-19.  However, through the shadow of all of this there is light such as the high school class of 2020, which I am proud to be a member. 

Yes, COVID-19 has prevented us from never experiencing our senior prom night of dressing up and dancing with classmates to celebrate, or our final game night with friends showing school spirit one last time, and senior players having their final game of their high school career. However, we have one last opportunity to be seniors in the midst of all this and it's by far the most important...We have graduation! One final celebration, anticipating the day we join classmates. Helping fix ties, caps, hair, taking photos with friends, saying our goodbyes before hearing our name called like those before, and receiving our diploma while shaking our principle's hand and hearing the cheers of parents and peers.  AND, I think it's still possible!

The Vail class of 2020 is hoping to have more than a "drive-through" diploma pick up day but a ceremony when it is safe. While it may not be the perfect graduation night, we deserve something to honor and acknowledge our years of effort and to recognize the next chapter. The feeling of closure, completion of our twelve year journey happens walking across the stage. Understanding the dangers of the COVID-19 virus and wanting to respect the CDC guidelines, a social distant ceremony is possible.

If other school districts, like TUSD can put effort into their seniors by having an in person graduation in June, why can't we? Or Catalina Foothills having a great idea for there seniors, as seen in the picture above, we can too. By keeping within the six feet distance rule, the ceremony can be held on a football field, allowing for room for each student to stand six feet from one another. Calling names and handing diplomas can be done the same as curb side pick up with gloves and masks. It can happen in mid to late June, the in person graduation can be split to two days to limit the amount of people at the ceremony to keep everyone safe. It can also be live streamed to allow the people unable to be in state, and the more susceptible to COVID can watch.

We can make this happen, you can help us get what we worked so hard for.

Thank you for you time and signature.