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East Dubuque plans events for seniors
EAST DUBUQUE–East Dubuque Superintendent TJ Potts released a letter to families on Monday, April 27 about plans for the rest of the school year.
“We feel very bad that this graduating class did not get to be celebrated during school at the end of this year like we would want to,” said Potts in his letter. “That doesn’t mean we aren’t going to celebrate them through.”
East Dubuque included a list of events taking place over the next couple months to celebrate seniors.
“We have a number of things that we are putting together for the seniors so they know how much they are missed and how proud of them we are,” said Potts.
The events planned include:
•a senior video that will be created to pay tribute to the class.
•individual tributes on the district website and “We are East Dubuque” Facebook page. The district is asking seniors or their families to send pictures and a short message about the graduate and their future plans to Mr. Potts. The tributes will be posted for everyone to see.
•senior shirts will be given to each senior to commemorate this extraordinary time in their life.
•organizing a last day parade. On Friday, May 29, East Dubuque will have seniors get in their cap and gown, deck out their cars and cruise the town. They will then lead the graduates on a senior parade.
This event will not be the district’s graduation ceremony, but will be their senior awards parade and a recognition event for the seniors.
•prom and graduation will occur in person.
“It has been our thought all along that graduation needs to happen in person,” said Potts.
The district has set the date of Saturday, July 18 for prom and Sunday, July 19 for the graduation ceremony. The district is looking for an air-conditioned venue to host graduation.
Potts informed parents that lockers will be cleaned out via a scheduled time and will only open up the school building for a small number of students during their prearranged time to clean out lockers and desks and to take their items home. The district is wanting all who enter the building to wear a mask.
The district will hold their final day of remote learning on Friday, May 22. The following week will be provided for staff to complete grading, clean out classrooms and allow students an opportunity to make up work.
The district is also planning a student carnival with games and inflatables for all students in the district as soon as they are able to host and have students on campus again.
“We are proud of our students and we want them to know that,” said Potts.