FARMINGTON – Driving around the greater Farmington area, it’s hard to miss the blue and gold signs swaying on the front lawns of many homes. The signs mark the homes of Mt. Blue Campus seniors- 173 in all- and were placed there by RSU 9 faculty, parents and community members striving to find ways to honor the graduating class.
This time of year would typically be busy for the students, from class trips and prom night, to final matches and performances. Not to mention graduation. Mt. Blue still has June 14 marked as graduation day, but Principal Monique Poulin said they haven’t decided yet what that day will actually look like. Like most schools across the state, Poulin are her staff are awaiting guidance from the state.
“We’re batting around a lot of ideas. We’re hoping for some sort of in-person graduation, where students wear their caps and gowns and cross the stage to get their well-earned diploma,” Poulin said.
The graduation committee put out a survey to the graduating seniors, asking them for input on the occasion. Poulin said the overwhelming response was to do something together, as a class, the way they have done for the last four years of their lives.
While the idea of gathering 173 students, plus supervising staff or parents, is nearly impossible, Poulin and the staff at Mt. Blue High School have been working around the clock to find other ways to recognize the momentous occasion. The yard signs were the result of some creativity, and a persistently positive attitude according to Poulin, of Administrative Assistant Kerri Dwyer. Dwyer gathered a team of other staff and parents to put out the 173 signs, covering all ten towns that the district includes.
Other ideas such as recognizing each individual student on social media, and posting senior pictures in a public location, are still on the table.
“Things are just so much harder to do from a distance. We do this work because we thrive on our relationships with each other and our students and a full campus community. Not being able to see each other and the students has been very difficult,” Poulin said.
Congratulations CLASS OF 2020.
This is a wonderful thing to do, what about organizing graduation via drive in theater in Farmington. all families in cars social distancing. Congratulations to all 2020 graduates!! both High school and college
What a great way to recognize the Mt. Blue graduating class. Congratulations class of 2020!!
Congratulations to class of 2020!! Well done!!!!
The parents could parallel park along a parade route. Sit in lawn chairs in the middle of their cars (6 foot distancing). Seniors could decorate up their car and drive the route. End at the school and have the much earned diploma dropped in their passengers window. Those with no license could find a close family member to drive them.
@parent of 2020 grad…. Our senior has brought up the parade idea and he loves this idea and many of the other seniors he has talked to seem to really like the idea of a parade as well! As a parent… whatever the seniors want to do that makes them feel special, we are on board with! This seems like a fun, safe, and original way to end a crazy senior year! They deserve to be in the spot light in a big way with with an extra special graduation after missing out on so much of such an important year. I hope the administration hears them and takes what the seniors of 2020 want into consideration before making a decision. The drive in seems like a good idea too… I haven’t heard anyone mention that idea yet… we are worried and feel that postponing graduation until the end of the summer is a bad idea…because who knows for sure If all the 2020 senior class will be here or available then due to college and working… not fair to make them wait and potentially miss it.