Bend- La Pine Schools announce plans for virtual graduation ceremonies
Students from Bend- LaPine School District express graduation concerns
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Graduation is right around the corner, but instead of having an opportunity to walk across the stage to get their diploma, Bend-La Pine Schools seniors will have a virtual ceremony, due to COVID-19.
Graduation is expected to take place on the same day and time that was planned for each school, the school district said Friday. All ceremonies will be filmed and livestreamed locally for students and their families.
Bend-La Pine Schools plan to incorporate traditions, like having speakers and will recognize each individual student, but some students still don’t feel they’ll have the closure necessary to commemorate their academic career.
Bend Senior High School senior Max Teichrow said, “I think i'ts unfortunate that it's come to this. I think they have a lack of closure. One day, we got the call saying school was done for two weeks -- and then we got the call saying school is done. It's unfortunate that there is no real significant closure.”
Fellow Bend High senior Kendra Gillette said, “I had my sister who was a senior, who graduated and is now a junior in college this year, and I remember her walking across the stage and her grad party, and all our friends and family came. It was such a fun experience, just sitting on the side. I was really excited to do that for myself, but unfortunately don’t have the chance which is really disappointing.”
Mountain View High senior Grant Jordan said, “It's definitely upsetting, because that is a major stepping stone in a lot of people's lives, and for our class to not experience that is pretty lame.”
Fellow Mountain View senior Tyler Beecroft said, "I am pretty bummed out about not being able to walk across the stage. I'm really thankful that Mountain View and the school district is really working hard to give us the opportunity to have some type of graduation. It means a lot to me. It’s a bummer to not be able to do it with all my friends.”
All of the students told NewsChannel 21 they plan on attending college, and hope that in another four years, or less, they’ll be able to walk across the stage to accept that diploma amid family and friends
Here's the info shared by the school district in an email:
Graduation Plans:
- Bend Senior High School - June 6 at 3 p.m.
- Bend Tech Academy at Marshall High School - June 8 at 7 p.m.
- La Pine High School - June 5 at 7 p.m.
- Mountain View High School - June 6 at 10 a.m.
- Summit High School - June 4 at 7 p.m.
Graduation Ceremony Survey
We are on a tight timeline to pull these graduation ‘shows’ together. We want to hear from students and families about what elements of graduation are their favorites and what new elements could be considered. We hope to include some of the ideas shared, if time allows. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. This survey will close at 5 p.m. Monday, April 27.
Care Packages
In the coming weeks, we plan to distribute senior care packages to every member of the Class of 2020. Care packages will include caps, gowns, honor cords, diploma covers and personalized notes, among other items. We hope you will don your cap and gown, take photos and share them with loved ones. Send your favorite cap and gown photos and/or short videos to us via email and they may appear in your graduation ceremony:
