The Walton Central School (WCS) Class of 2020 is scheduled to graduate in June, but this year circumstances are different. Family and friends of the graduates will not be gathering on the football field bleachers or in the gymnasium to watch the 65 students receive their high school diplomas.
Because of social distance restrictions, precipitated by COVID-19, there will be a graduating class, but the “Pomp and Circumstance” will take a different form.
Some good news, thanks to WCS Parent Teacher Student Association member Alisa Gregory, there is something new for the class: the “Adopt A Senior” effort, known in the Walton school district as “Adopt a Senior Warrior.”
She said she named the class Senior Warriors because “it defined exactly what our Seniors are. They have strength and heart, unlike any senior class I have known.”
The idea came from Gregory’s sister in Chesapeake, Va., who suggested starting a senior adoption Facebook page for the Walton kids. Other schools have modeled similar programs - and Gregory loved the idea.
To become involved, according to Gregory, Facebook members “’Like’ the page.” Those wishing to can choose a particular senior to adopt or Gregory can match them.
When asked what the goal of the effort is, Gregory responded, “To send some love, and let them know they are supported during this difficult time of pandemic.”
People are sending letters of encouragement, cards, gifts or hand crafted items to their adopted seniors. Some interesting gifts include T-shirts with toilet paper quarantine or senior class skip day logos, gift baskets, candy, and flowers.
Gregory knows only too well what the class of 2020 is going through. Her 17-year-old daughter Madison Barnes is a June graduate preparing for Fall admission to Sage College, in pursuit of a career in physical therapy. Madison works at Walton McDonald’s where she often connects with her school friends at the drive-up window.
Gregory said her daughter “now has a new perspective on day-to-day life.”
Looking ahead to next month and graduation, Gregory remarked “nothing is normal,” but added, “The WCS staff is working hard to make graduation as close to the real thing as possible while practicing social distancing.”
At last check there are 316 Facebook likes on the Adopt a Warrior Senior Facebook page, and all WCS seniors have been adopted many times. The pictures posted of the seniors with their gifts indicate the morale boost it has given them.
