Coronavirus Commencement

Senior students want their parents and families to attend their High School Graduation. The date isn't until July 24-25. That's not for another 2 months! Surely, by then, we can figure out solutions that are fair to our seniors. There are several safe options that could be utilized such as: several smaller ceremonies, larger venue, masks, assigned seating for the audience to name a few. Why is Poudre School District and Larimer County Department of Health and Environment not working hard to find these solutions? What has been done for our 2020 seniors? Why is this decision being accepted by us parents and not challenged? There is still enough time to figure this out. Even if you don't have a senior in your family this year,  don't let this year set a precedent for future years. We, as parents, students, Americans, respected community members, voters, and tax payers should be heard and have a say. Please sign this petition so our 2020 seniors don't suffer these consequences. And, Please share it on your page. Thank you!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fairleigh Dickinson University has made the decision to cancel rather than postpone the 2020 commencement ceremony. While we understand that this decision was made in response to the CDC's guidelines to prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people for 8 weeks, the class of 2020 is extremely disheartened that the school would choose to cancel the ceremony rather than postpone it. The university has told us that we may conduct a virtual ceremony, but clearly that would not be the celebration that so many of us have worked so hard for. We understand the difficult position that the school is in, but the class of 2020 asks FDU administration to consider postponing the ceremony to a later date (and at a different location if necessary) rather than canceling or moving the ceremony online.

I want to start this petition on behalf of the graduating class of 2020. It is being proposed that the senior and three family members are allowed to be in the car during graduation the rest can watch it on live screen. My problem is this; I have two grandsons and one granddaughter graduating this year. My two grandsons has a mom, step dad, dad, stepmom and siblings. And very involved, excited grandparents too. My granddaughter has her mom, dad and two siblings, and grandparents too. If you only allow the graduate and three others in the car, who gets left behind to watch on tv?  I understand the need to keep the crowds small. But if your car holds 5 or 7 or 8 people you should at least be able to fill your car. If your family is still more than your car is equipped to hold then put the rest in the stands with social distancing in place. These children have worked hard for 13 or more years to achieve this success and we all want to share in celebrating their success. I am very proud of all of the 2020 graduates. You are finishing out your high school career with grace during this crazy time and I would love for everyone to be able to have a graduation ceremony to remember for the rest of your lives. CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020!

While we understand why prom and graduation cannot take place as scheduled, we are asking the district to reschedule these events when it is safe to do so and to not cancel them altogether. The class of 2020 has worked so hard over the past thirteen years of their school career, and they deserve to have the same milestones like prom and graduation that classes before them have received.  We are all going through a lot of stress during this COVID-19 crisis, and our Seniors are experiencing an added layer by having all of the milestones the rest of us enjoyed as high school seniors taken from them. While some can’t be restored, they need the biggest ones, prom and graduation, for them to get the appropriate closure to their school experience and to help them move past this awful time and move confidently towards their futures.  Again, we are just asking that prom and graduation be held when it is safe to do so, hopefully this summer. Please sign this petition for the 2000+ Seniors in our district who deserve to dance that last dance at prom and walk across the commencement stage. Then they can look up at the family in the stands, the classmates next to them and their teachers, who will undoubtedly be there, who have all loved them through the past eighteen years and say to themselves, “We did it. Together”.  Thanks for adding your signature and your voice. Hoping that the SMSD administration hears every single one!