The COVID-19 epidemic has affected public schools in unprecedented ways. Months of closures, through the end of the school year, has forced online learning, redesigned standardized testing, and raised questions about equity. For most high school students, this feels like an inconvenient blip in their education. But for those in the senior class, the coronavirus closures feel like a forgone ending, a missed chance to say goodbye. And nowhere is this more prevalent than in reactions to the cancellation or postponement of both prom and the graduation ceremony, two senior year traditions that represent the grand finale of high school life.

Madi Yeh, Issaquah High School’s Senior Class President, is disappointed with this ending to high school. She says, “Growing up, prom and graduation were always made to be such a big deal in movies, and in my perception of high school. It’s sad that I probably won’t have this traditional experience.” Jacob, an IHS senior who asked to keep his last name anonymous for privacy reasons, adds, “I’m really sad to be missing this time with my senior friends, especially as we all part ways in our lives.” Kobi Sunday, an IHS senior and ASB officer, points out that “it ends our high school time without a lot of closure.” However, all three students agree that cancelling was the right decision.

At IHSIssaquah High School, the cancellation of both events on their original dates and locations was announced in an April 23 email from the principal, Andrea McCormick. The email stated that the school administration is “entertaining the idea of a prom in July to be held at Issaquah High School” if the current “public health and Governor’s orders” will allow it. After surveying the senior class, a later email set the new prom date for July 18. As for graduation, a virtual graduation video is planned for June 12, the date of the original in-person ceremony at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and a new in-person ceremony is set for July at IHSIssaquah High School, later specified for July 20.

However, the new make-up dates in July are being called into question by some. With the state-wide ban on large gatherings of people in Washington State likely extending through the summer, it is possible that IHSIssaquah High School’s prom and graduation ceremony will not be allowed to happen even in July. Principal McCormick says that the school is not making plans for the events yet, because, “Honestly, it’s a long shot that we’d be able to have these with social distancing and group size so we haven’t jumped to details yet since we think it’s a very small chance.” Yeh agrees, saying, “I really appreciate that the administration is making efforts to plan alternative events with the July dates, but I don’t think the events will actually happen. July seems too early for the governor to allow for such large groups to meet together.” So, it appears that this year’s senior class may go entirely without these events, at least in-person.

Other public high schools are not faring much better. Across America, prom, graduation, and other senior events have been cancelled in many schools. Some are coming up with creative alternatives to ease students’ disappointment, from drive-though graduation ceremonies to virtual proms. There are even graduation ceremonies happening at drive-in movie theaters. On a larger scale, some celebrities and organizations have been organizing prom and graduation videos to celebrate the class of 2020 as a whole. On his breakout-hit YouTube show “Some Good News,” former “The Office” star John Krasinski held a virtual prom video with performances from musicians like Billie Eilish and the Jonas Brothers. Later, he followed up with a graduation video with appearances from Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. Online celebrity commencement speeches have been a growing trend during the pandemic. On May 16, multiple television networks simultaneously broadcast “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020,” a celebration of high school seniors full of speeches from celebrities, hosted by basketball star LeBron James. Former president Barack Obama headlined the special with a commencement speech in which he reflected on how “graduation marks your passage into adulthood.” He elaborated, “It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you: the kind of career you want to pursue. Who you want to build a family with. The values you want to live by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary.” Obama will follow up with another commencement address on June 6, headlining YouTube’s star-studded “Dear Class of 2020” video.

As for IHS’sssaquah High School virtual graduation ceremony on June 12, the school plans to run the entire graduation program as it would normally go, just without the students walking up to the stage to “Pomp and Circumstance.” All else will still be in place, including the speeches. Sunday does not think that a virtual graduation can adequately replace the original. He says, “Online graduation is simply not the same as in-person, and all of the hype and excitement I had for the graduation process has died down to zero.” Jacob, however, has a more optimistic view on the virtual event, saying, “I have hopes that a graduation ceremony, even online, will bring some much-needed closure to our high school experience. I know the same in-person regality and solidarity of the community is impossible to replicate virtually, but I appreciate all of the teachers and administrators who are trying.” 

Other alternatives to prom and graduation are already being considered. Some high schools across the country are organizing reunion dances to replace prom, planned for either winter break in late December or summer 2021. As Yeh explains, “They moved their dates back so far, so that students returning home for winter break can come back to the high school for a class reunion, prom, and graduation. Of course, pushing back so far has its own problems as well, but it seems more realistic than planning to hold such large events in July.” On the idea of a December reunion dance at IHS, Principal McCormick says that the school administration is “considering a December reunion prom, but this also relies on social distance and group gathering sizes which might continue to be restricted even in December.”

In the meantime, McCormick suggests other ways to celebrate with the senior class. She says to “continue to be creative. I’ve seen some great work – fun videos, zooming friends and more! I love that students are using their tech skills and creativity to get things done.”