Class Of 2021 Working Toward Traditional Graduations With COVID Protocols
Mar 18, 2021, 4:37 PM | Updated: 4:48 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Several school events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but district leaders across Utah have given the green light to wrap up the school year in a way that will be fun and traditional for students.
Olympus High School Student Body President Tyler Fredrick was busy planning a graduation parade and senior prom Wednesday.
He wasn’t sure either of the events would take place under COVID-19 restrictions, until Granite School District officials gave Olympus High and other schools the green light to hold year-end traditions.
“This is kind of what we’ve been hoping for all year,” he said.
Most of Utah’s school districts, including Alpine, Jordan and Nebo will get prom and an additional end-of-year dance.
Salt Lake City and Park City school districts will allow one school dance.
Canyons School District celebrations will include parades, senior yard signs and graduation parties. Nebo School District will also allow school fundraising events for various charities.
Olympus and other schools in the Granite School District will have prom, a dance and graduation night parties. For students, it will provide a more traditional ending to a year that has been anything but traditional.
“Having these activities and getting to make these memories with our friends, who after we graduate, we may never see again. So, it is kind of the last hurrah and the last big moment for us,” Fredrick said.
Class of 2021 will get the best of traditions and new ideas for graduation celebrations. No one wants more "virtual" graduations. #KSLTV #uted https://t.co/xcM8cDykg2
— Deanie Wimmer (@DeanieWimmer) March 17, 2021
Many schools will also have yearbooks and yearbook signing events. COVID-19 derailed those activities, and in some cases, postponed last year’s yearbooks.
Many other districts, like the Weber School District, are still planning their activities and assessing the situation.
“If things continue as they have been, there’s no reason we wouldn’t be able to have these activities again,” said Lane Findlay, director of public relations for Weber School District.
Their primary goal is to avoid any more quarantines due to COVID-19. Once district leaders are confident they can do that, they will also allow schools to plan activities.
“You don’t want to overpromise and under deliver. You’d rather have it be the other way around,” Findlay said.
All school districts will require COVID-19 precautions at their year-end events, including hand sanitizing and wearing masks — even on the slow dances.
“I know, it’s not going to be the most enjoyable thing, but it will sure be memorable,” said Fredrick.
