End-of-Year Events

Pandemic Shapes End of the Year

The Class of 2020, and their fellow Red Knights, walked out of school on March 12 anticipating two weeks of online school and spring break. All would be well on April 6 when they returned to the classroom and their spring sports and activities. Online school was not foreign to them. Minnesota weather (snowy and/or cold days) had already provided them with that experience. Of course, what no one realized then was that the end of the school year would be very different. Online school evolved into Extended Online School (EOS), spring sports and activities were eventually cancelled, and familiar end-ofyear events were carried out virtually. Administration, faculty, and staff worked overtime to provide an exceptional learning experience and meaningful events and ceremonies.

For the seniors, this was their final hurrah. There would be no prom, final banquets, or goodbye hugs and good wishes. However, “reimagine” became the buzzword, and many scheduled events had a new look. The May 1 alumni/senior breakfast was held with out-oftown alums via Zoom and Google Meet. Student Recognition and the annual Awards Ceremony were viewed on Flip Grid, and the Easter and closing school Mass were streamed live on YouTube.

Veronica Nowakowski ‘20 and Nadya Mojica ‘20 began the Baccalaureate celebration in song.

Baccalaureate and graduation were the two remaining question marks. Seniors and their parents were not to be denied these special events. Fr. Tim Wozniak ‘66 celebrated Baccalaureate Mass on a raised stage near BSM’s first base dugout with huge screens to the east and west for all to view from the parking lot. The seniors and their parents arrived in cars, tuned into Mass on the radio, and celebrated as a family. Yes, alums, Mike Jeremiah was there to sing “Forever Young,” and the two elected senior leaders, Hope Wang and Joe Marinaro, ended the program with words of wisdom for their classmates.

July 25 was the day the seniors had been awaiting. With a class smaller than the 250 limit for gatherings, the graduating

Red Knights were ready to proudly walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. The ceremony, originally planned to take place on the stadium turf, was moved to the

Great Hall after threats of rain and a summer storm dotted the radar. Parents viewed the entire ceremony on big screens in the BSM parking lot. 2020 - a graduation, a class, and a year to remember.