CLASS OF 2020 HONORED

District puts out yard signs to celebrate high school seniors

Lorain City Schools celebrated its 2020 senior class by placing over 450 yard signs at the homes of graduating students May 14, recognizing their accomplishments despite the limitations caused due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Tamara Jones, dean of Scholar and Family Engagement General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, organized the event.

Jones, along with staff from the district, went to Lorain High to pick up the signs.

“We have staff from throughout the district coming here to help with the project,” she said. “We have all staff from secretaries, nurses, counselors and teachers helping out.

“It brings joy to our day as we are stuck at home. There is a list of about eight to 10 students in each sheet we are passing out to staff. They are clustered by elementary school zones, and we have a total of 469 seniors that are getting signs.”

Jones said she wanted to honor the senior class.

“When the whole thing went down, I was wondering how the district would honor our students,” she said. “It’s just thinking of a way to give back.

“So, I reached out to Rae Bastock (executive director at Lorain High) and she said go for it.”

Jones said she then spread the word to other staff members about the project.

“Once I was given the OK, I then sent word out to the staff asking if anyone was interested in helping out,” she said. “We have 82 people that signed up, who are willing to support this whole venture.

“I’m very, very grateful that they’re here.”

Jones said the end of the year has been very different compared to what schools are used to.

“To end the year the way we ended, we knew it would be a lot different from the norm,” she said. “Figuring it would end crazy anyway, and then you realize there really wasn’t any closure.

“So, hopefully, this gives some sort of closure for our seniors. I think this is a great opportunity for our seniors to know that the district loves you, the community loves you and I’m excited we can do this.”

Jones said the event was organized for a smooth and simple process for those who were putting in the signs.

“We have it so the staff members drive by in their cars here at the High School,” she said.

“They get their route, with the eight to 10 seniors like I mentioned, they get the signs and they are going to put the signs in a senior’s yard and move on to the next one.”

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Nora Wright, a teacher at Lorain High School, was one of the staff members planting yard signs May 14to honor seniors.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Arlinda Keaton, a paraprofessional at Lorain High School, right, plants a yard sign with the help of her daughter, Brieana Keaton, center, to honor Lorain High senior Vincent Turner, left.