Class of 2020 ready for the future

By Kendall Ash | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

Four years ago, I played Pomp and Circumstance with the NHS band for the first time as I watched the class of 2016 take their seats at graduation. The ceremony was somewhat long-winded for a freshman who hardly knew anyone from the graduating class, but watching the seniors turn their tassels and throw their caps in the air was a heartwarming moment.

As I cheered my friends across the stage in the following years, I dreamt of being in their place; of receiving my diploma and feeling a sense of fulfillment while shaking my principal’s hand. If this were a normal year, the moment I have waited for would be at my fingertips. Instead, no one knows for sure what graduation will look like, and if I get to shake my principal’s hand at all, we’ll probably both be wearing gloves. It has

now been nearly three months since the stay at home order was issued, and life has changed dramatically in this short time. Students and teachers faced a unique struggle as we adjusted to a completely different online school environment.

For seniors, the loss of faceto-face learning Northville High School Principal Tony Koski handed out caps and gowns to graduating seniors in a different way this year. and extracurriculars is especially small groups; but the available options just disheartening. This time of the year seem impersonal. Instead of being clapped is normally spent creating enjoyable out by our parents on the last day of school, memories of seniors’ last days with events we smiled and waved at our teachers and like prom, graduation, and the senior all pressed a button that said “leave meeting.” night party. We look forward to these Northville’s Class of 2020, in particular, events as parts of a final farewell to high has been through some rough times school and as a way to focus on all the good together, especially this year. The from the last four years. Because of the community we have built as a result of our pandemic, we must instead forego many of struggles is considerate and dependable, the “lasts” we hoped to celebrate. and many of us rely on its support. To leave

For me, that means no last concert this community so abruptly without proper for my band or wind ensemble, no last closure just feels wrong. We have lost an astronomy club meeting, and no last day entire transitory period when we would of school. The events we are missing out normally be able to say goodbye to our on are what many people remember when classmates and accept our passage into a they think back on their senior year, or new environment. even high school in general. When I These last couple months it has felt like look back on this year in the future, we were in limbo. We hadn’t really left high though, my memories will be school, but it was still gone. Now, we also much different. worry that the pandemic will extend into Grad parties will be held next semester, meaning many of us will virtually or not at all, and be taking college courses online. If this is events like prom and the the case, then we will also lose the valuable all night party are out of experience of having in person lectures the question for the time and being able to live on campus. As a being. Graduation may be precaution, some of my peers have opted to held in cars, online, or in postpone their acceptances to universities

in favor of gaining work experience. I decided to attend the University of Michigan in the fall, so I have my fingers crossed that the campus and dorms will open back up.

In the meantime, the structure of online classes has given us plenty of free time. My sister and I often take walks when the weather is nice, and I spend plenty of time exercising. I’ve also enjoyed painting, playing the French horn, and reading. My schedule before school closed was rigorous and busy because of how many advanced classes I was taking, so I didn’t have much time to do things I enjoyed. Learning from home has its pros and cons, but I certainly appreciate not having to take exams or deal with so much stress. Many of my peers feel the same way.

“I’m sad that school is over but I’m excited to see what the future holds,” said my friend Sarah Campbell, who has been spending her free time working on her online calligraphy and card making store and practicing guitar. Although we miss what we had before quarantine, we are glad to be able to focus on things we enjoy.

Even without the usual festivities and gatherings, the class of 2020 is still being celebrated. On social media, there are profiles devoted to sharing seniors’ plans for the future, and families are able to send congratulatory shoutouts. Graphic designers and photographers are also providing yard signs and banners that show support for the seniors. Other individual senior events have been converted into online slideshows and meetings.

While it may be in a different format, the seniors are grateful to receive so much love and support.

Despite the various challenges posed by the pandemic, our community and the Class of 2020 have continued to prove their toughness and adaptability. While we may be deprived of tradition, our generation is known for its ability to think forward. Without a doubt, we will make it

through this crisis having gained new skills, strengths, and ideas.

To my fellow seniors: stay safe, stay strong, and stay in touch. I hope we can see each other in person again soon.

Kendall Ash is a member of the Northville High School Class of 2020. She will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

Northville Public Schools consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and an early childhood education and extended day program. The district also operates Cooke School, a special education center financed by the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency and staffed by Northville educators. Northville Schools takes pride in providing a world class education for students and maintains expectations for high achievement with multiple accreditations. Each of our 6 elementary schools are recognized as Leader in Me™ Lighthouse Schools, a significant benchmark that recognizes outstanding results in school and student outcomes.

Visit northvilleschools.org/enroll and begin the enrollment process by filling out the pre-enrollment forms for your student.

AMERMAN Elementary

Visit northvilleschools.org/enroll and schedule a virtual appointment with the Northville Public Schools Student Data department. Visit northvilleschools.org/enroll to register for the 2020-2021 school year for all grades.

Attend Your Schools’ Virtual Parent Orientation Each elementary school will host a virtual Parent Orientation for incoming kindergarten families.

Advancing our Tradition of Excellence by Opening a World Possibilities 405 West Main, Northville, MI 48167 | wwww.northvilleschools.org

Northville High School seniors may not have had their traditional graduation ceremony on the last day of May because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Yet there was still a celebration with a vehicle parade down Six Mile Road through the community on May 31. And judging by the cheers, honking horns and social media posts maybe a new tradition was born. Who wants to sit and listen to stuffy speeches and watch people walk across a stage for three hours anyway?

Starting at about 6 p.m. hundreds of decorated vehicles, full of Northville grads, chauffeured by their parents, and escorted by Northville Township police officers left the parking lot at Ward Church and made their way along Six Mile to the high school. There they were greeted by teachers and staff cheering, waving banners, loud music, confetti cannons and more. Possibly the most vocal of the cheers came from NHS Principal Tony Koski, who danced and waved to every senior who passed, mentioning many by name.

Cars and trucks decorated with banners, balloons and more packed into the back parking lot of Ward Church like sardines in a can.

When the parade started some seniors stood out of sunroofs, some were in the back of trucks and all seemed to be waving and smiling the whole time. Along the Six Mile Road route teachers and staff from all the elementary schools, the middle schools and the board of education cheered and waved as the parade passed. Friends and family of the seniors also lined the route to cheer them on.

And while social distancing and mask wearing were not perfect, it seemed people were doing their best to comply with the safety rules. Being outside helped.

The Northville Township police blocked crossroads and directed traffic to keep things moving along. The parade, organized by the Senior All Night Party Committee and parent volunteers, lasted for more than an hour in what could have been the best possible send off for this year’s graduating class in the crazy times we all live in.