By Mary O’KEEFE

Crescenta Valley High School seniors, and/or their parents, participated in a drive-through cap and gown distribution on Wednesday at the teachers’ parking lot at the school.

There has been no decision yet if there will be a virtual graduation ceremony for CVHS students. There had been discussion about a possible parade of vehicles in which students would drive past teachers as their names were announced. This is something that has happened in other counties; however, Principal Linda Junge sent a message to seniors and their families that, according to the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health order, this would not be allowed.

For Sarah Benitez her senior year is nothing liked she hoped or expected.

“It is definitely disappointing,” she said of the effect COVID-19 has had on schools. “I am a runner and I didn’t get my senior track season.”

She added she misses her teammates.

“It’s really frustrating; senior year is really hard in the first semester because you are applying to all these colleges and that was one of the hardest times in my life. You have to write all these essays and you’re so worried and everything is so unsure,” she said. “Then the second semester is supposed to be a breeze.”

But second semester was when school was closed and online learning began.

“We left in March – right before our prom and grad night – we didn’t have the time to enjoy our senior year and now we don’t get any of that,” she added.

She is disappointed there will be no traditional graduation ceremony and had hoped there could be something like the cap and gown drive-through as a replacement ceremony.

“But I think that is pretty much off the table,” she said. “What we all want is just to see each other but that’s impossible.”

  Mary Okeefe