PLHS seniors willing to postpone commencement to wait for in-person ceremony

Nearly everything is going remote during this pandemic, except apparently most 2020 senior graduations throughout the San Diego Unified School District, including Point Loma High School.

And, at least in the Pointers case, the student body has already made its first choice for a graduation ceremony.

“Based on my consultations with the student body, we do not want a virtual graduation, so a lot of work has gone into alternative options to avoid that scenario,” said Ila Jade Komasa, ASB president at PLHS, and president of SDUSD Council of ASB Presidents. “Although it is still a possibility in case public health guidelines will not allow us those alternative options, we are not currently planning a virtual graduation for the June 9 graduation celebration.”

Komasa said PLHS’ preference is to postpone its graduation ceremony.

“We are planning class of 2020 celebrations that are alternatives to a graduation ceremony for our original date of June 9,” she said. “This allows us more time to plan a postponed graduation for over summer. The goal for this postponed graduation is to have an in-person ceremony while following all health guidelines outlined for the time of the ceremony. Obviously our top priority is the health and safety of all staff and students, but it is important to the student body to have as close to a traditional graduation as possible.”

Added Komasa: “These decisions are the result of weeks of planning with the student body and all of the initial recommendations came from the direct opinions of over 2,600 seniors within our school district. The survey results expressed an overwhelming majority that students would rather postpone and hope for in-person ceremonies than have virtual graduations.”

The SDUSD Board May 12 accepted recommendations from student ASB leaders who have worked with seniors on what graduation will look like this year, noted SDUSD spokesperson Maureen Magee. “Basically, the board said schools could come up with their own graduation plans, as long as they are accessible to everyone, are in sync with public health guidelines, and are approved by their principals and school leaders,” said Magee.

Alternatives to a June in-person graduation were discussed at the May 12 SDUSD Board of Education meeting. Gleaned from that discussion was the realization that a traditional graduation commencement will almost certainly not take place next month. SDUSD seniors are accepting that, although they’re not letting the circumstances define them.

PLHS’ Komasa presented findings to the board from a student committee that helped organize a survey to seniors in the district regarding possibilities for how and when to mark an alternative graduation.

More than 2,600 seniors responded to the survey where they laid out their preferences, including the option of postponing in-person graduation until later in the summer, provided it can be held safely by adhering to public health guidelines.

Komasa said another option presented by seniors includes the possibility of a virtual graduation ceremony at some point if a physical graduation cannot be held on either a large or small-scale this summer.

SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten agreed with Komasa, giving credit to the student committee that turned a setback into a search for alternatives.

“The students are all pretty disappointed that the end of our senior year was taken away from us,” concluded Komasa. “But the support from the school district, and from the community, have been amazing, and we are very hopeful that we will still be able to have some of our senior activities.”

Caps and gowns, diploma covers and graduation signs can be picked up at a student’s individual high school between May 27 and June 3. Details on specific pickup times and protocols will be announced when they are finalized.

CLASS OF 2020 SURVEY
Hace poco, Affirm, a privately held San Franciso-based financial technology company, released a survey with insights on how graduation has changed for the class of 2020. The insights include how grads plan to celebrate, how their summer plans have changed, and the gifts they’re most excited to receive.

Highlights:

Casual Ceremony Attire: Over 80% of graduates are attending their graduation this year; over 60% are wearing PJs or athleisure
Post-Grad Travel Plans: 80% of graduates rescheduled travel plans, with 70% shifting to 2021
Putting Plans on Hold: 70% of graduates have postponed or canceled moving
What Grads Will Be Doing Instead: Graduates plan to spend the consumer consuming content
- 63% plan to use the summer to watch movies or TV, 60% will be listening to music and 59% are planning to stay connected by calling or doing video calls with friends and family
What Grads Want: Graduates still want trips or experiences during this time but are banking on gift cards/cash and electronics

Before the pandemic, the top three gifts people wanted to receive were gift cards/cash (35%), a trip or experience (25%), and electronics (15%)
Since the pandemic, a trip or experience remains a top three most coveted gift (15%) but it’s now behind gift cards/cash (50%) and electronics (about 20%)

What Friends/Family Plan to Buy:
- Before the pandemic, the top three gifts people were planning to give were gift cards/cash (40%), electronics (25%), and a trip or experience (15%)
- Since the pandemic, home decor or furniture (15%) has replaced a trip or experience in the top three, just behind gift cards/cash (50%), and electronics (15%)