Coronavirus Cancels Annual Senior Activities
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) district-wide school shutdown, Peninsula’s Associated Student Body (ASB) has postponed annual senior activities that were scheduled to take place toward the end of second semester, including prom, Declare Day and Baccalaureate. These senior events are organized by ASB members who meet the summer before school begins to organize the dates.
Peninsula ASB President and senior Sydney Choi created and planned numerous events this year, including all of the senior events. Choi is currently working with ASB to think of alternative ways to celebrate the seniors in the chance that these annual events do get canceled.
“Principal Kuykendall has not officially announced the cancellation of these events, but we are [currently finding] different ways to celebrate the seniors,” Choi said. “Each of these events holds a special place in my heart. They are supposed to connect our senior class, as we were all parting our separate ways.”
In addition to Baccalaureate, Peninsula ASB Vice President and senior Sabrina Tang had hoped to celebrate Declare Day, where seniors announce their future plans by representing their colleges through activities in the amphitheater. To supplement this school campus event, ASB has created an Instagram page, @pvphsseniors2020, to give seniors the opportunity to virtually showcase their future college plans.
“The entire world is feeling the effects of [this epidemic],” Tang said. “We are all going through a tough time. We have already had a virtual spirit week, but ASB plans to have more [activities, since] we cannot return to school until May 15, [to keep encouraging our students].”
Commissioner of Clubs and senior Mati Yang is a part of ASB’s prom-planning committee. Although the cancellation is not finalized, ASB is now working on events in the meantime such as a virtual graduation that would be held on June 11, if seniors choose that alternative.
“It is unclear as to when or if we will ever [return to campus], so as of now events are just being postponed or most likely canceled,” Yang said. “We are considering a postponed graduation and prom. However, it is completely based on the situation at hand, so no events are guaranteed.”
Like the rest of the senior class, senior Dana Goldstein, has been looking forward to these events and is now unable to experience these end of the year celebrations. She hopes that these activities celebrate the senior class and honor the accomplishments they achieved during these past four years.“These events are supposed to allow us to celebrate our successes and hard work throughout these four years here [at Peninsula] together as a class,” Goldstein said. “The class of 2020 is devastated to lose their [last] moments due to COVID-19, especially because we are all going our separate paths afterwards. Yet, [as a class], we are trying our best to be there for each other during these hard times. The class of 2020 is composed of strong individuals, and I believe we will get through this together.”
