Clearview seniors “adopted” by community to thrive

Family, friends and community members are adopting seniors at Clearview High School to show appreciation for the students.

Clearview High School, 4700 Broadway Ave. in Lorain, has 127 seniors who, like others, had to forfeit the remainder of the year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As the school year comes to an end, high school seniors across the nation have been left without graduation ceremonies, prom and senior awards.

Marnie McCardle, an active member in the Clearview community and former Clearview employee, created a Facebook page, “Adopt a

Clearview Senior 2020” two weeks ago to try to give her son’s senior class their own unique senior activity.

“Clearview is known for its community feeling because we’re a small district,” McCardle said. “I just wanted the community to come together to support the seniors. They’ve worked so hard for this.”

Since the page’s creation, around 80 students have been adopted and around 40 remain unadopted.

McCardle said students can be adopted by more than one person, but her goal is to make sure all seniors receive a surprise.

“It’s not about the monetary value,” she said. “It’s about making them smile because they don’t get to do what they’ve planned for and looked forward to.”

Within the Facebook page, parents and relatives of seniors have posted their names, what they like, dislike and other aspects about their personalities and short biographies.

Page members are then able to claim a students and “adopt” them.

“Once they’ve been adopted, they can receive a note, card, gift card, treat or little gift from whoever adopted them,” McCardle said.

Sponsors get in contact with the person who submitted a senior for adoption in order to send or drop off the surprise, she said.

Over the past two weeks, McCardle has heard stories of students receiving notes, gifts and treats from former teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria

“I’m really impressed with how generous the community has been. What really cool is that I’ve seen younger Clearview alumni from four or five years ago asking who they can sponsor and how they can help.” — Marnie McCardle, creator of the Facebook page for Clearview seniors

staff and aids.

“I’m really impressed with how generous the community has been,” she said.

“What really cool is that I’ve seen younger Clearview alumni from four or five years ago asking who they can sponsor and how they can help.”

LYRIC AQUINO — THE MORNING JOURNAL A Clearview High School signature rock is painted by students for sports, clubs and senior activities. Done in Clearview colors, blue and yellow, the rock is a symbol of unity among the students and Clearview community.