Has Grandview High School and The Community Failed the Class of 2021?

By Sydney Hamm, ‘21

Back in March, the schools got a notice that it would be shut down for a couple of weeks as the Covid virus was spreading so rapidly. This caused worry in the seniors of 2020, soon the school started shutting down everything that the CDC said would be a COVID-19 risk factor. March 13th was the last day for everyone, this meant the seniors would not be able to finish their senior year and it was very upsetting. This is when the community was brought together to help in any way they could. Local businesses were giving out free drinks to the graduating class and cookies. The school hung up the students’ banners all over town so everyone could see the faces of the graduating class. The school also held a meet up where they lit up the stadium and played a slide show of the class of 2020. The school was trying to set up a parade for the graduates but couldn’t because of a higher power, but parents and members of the community still held one and it was an amazing day filled with smiles and laughter by the seniors, their family members, and most importantly the community went out to cheer on the class that was driving by them. Even though the class of 2020 didn’t get traditional graduation, the community and school did anything they could to make it special.

But a new school year has started for a new graduating class, but have they been forgotten? This school year started online and most likely will end with being online, which means no senior year for the class of 2021. Has the school done anything to support the seniors or try to give them a senior experience? No. Has the community reached out and tried to support this new senior class compared to last year’s senior class? No. Some might say it is too early to know if they truly failed. But as a senior and listening to my peers, we do believe that Grandview High School and the community have failed.

After talking to the principle of Grandview High School about this topic a question brought up was “How has Grandview High School supported the graduating class of 2021” she responded “If you are referring to preparing you for life after high school we have been sending out scholarship bulletins, information about FAFSA meetings, and have also had colleges and the military at our drive through Open House. We will continue to support students and be on track with their credits and state tests. We don’t know if there will be a waiver for the students of 2021 for state tests yet. We will keep everyone informed as we learn more.” We also talked about how the community has been supportive. Casey says “Our community continues to support our students in many ways. The Grandview Rotary offers scholarships, the Chamber of Commerce does yearly awards. Dollars for Scholars does fundraisers and offers scholarships as well. The community continues to strive for a safe place for students to be.” The community has always done these types of scholarships year after year but this year is different than any other year we have seen before. Should the community be doing more because the seniors are having the worst year imagined possible?

After speaking to the seniors at Grandview High School, they are disappointed that their senior year has turned into a really bad experience. The class understands the limits that are holding back the fun events that should be happening. But the Grandview High School has not even done a zoom event for the seniors or gone out and represented the Class of 2021 to the community. One student says, “I feel like I have yet to be recognized as a senior at Grandview High School, I wish there is something more they could do. My peers and I are struggling to even feel like this is our last year of being a Hound and quite frankly, it’s depressing.” Every student in GHS is struggling in their own ways. The school should be reaching out to their students to understand the needs and the issues that are going on. Instead, the excuse is that Covid is in the way, which it is but there are always ways to be connected to each other which the High School is struggling to do.

There are many seniors that are frustrated and feel like they are not being heard. How long must we wait for our voices to be heard? It feels like our senior year is being determined by higher powers that are not taking the view of others into consideration. I am calling on you seniors, we must band together and make our voices heard. It is not too late for change, the time for action is now. ◆