On Saturday morning, June 13, 2020, the GWCS Class of 2020 gathered for their long-awaited high school graduation — not in the plush auditorium of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial as planned — but in the school parking lot standing in chalked circles in front of their cars indicating where they should stand to maintain a 14’ distance.  As was true around the world, formal graduation, along with every other anticipated spring event, had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On Friday, March 13, 2020, all GWCS students and staff went home knowing that there was a need to shift to online learning until this virus was under control.  By the following week, all GWCS classes were up and running using Microsoft Teams and for the next three months (not the few weeks we had hoped for) students maintained their normal high school schedule of classes online.

As, one by one, events were canceled, GWCS staff and parents worked together to celebrate the seniors in new and very personalized ways; determined that the pandemic would not cheat this class of their well deserved recognition and celebration. Over the next few months, seniors were reminded that the GWCS community was thinking of them in a myriad of ways:

SENIOR TREES:  For Earth Day, each senior received a baby tree that was secretly delivered to their home and presented to them during an all-school Zoom along with a letter from Ms. Warden & the GWCS Crew.

LAWN SIGNS:  Ms. Warden (Director) and Mr. Goldie (Assistant Director) drove to each seniors’ home unannounced to deliver a GWCS Graduate lawn sign.    

SENIOR SURPRISE BOXES:  Next a box of goodies was assembled for each senior which included goodies, essentials, senior t-shirt, coyote facemask and more.

SENIOR TRIBUTE PRESENTATION:  On our last Friday of school, the entire staff and student body met on Zoom to participate in a special tribute where each senior was recognized.

SENIOR TRIBUTE SONG: Dr. Garon lyrically adapted and performed a personalized song for the GWCS Class of 2020 to say... "Bye, Bye, from GW High. We're so glad you came here, we're so glad you stopped by. This place has got no equal, you can sure testify. Your time has come and now you must fly."

GRADUATION: As it became clear that we were not going to be able to have our traditional graduation ceremony and reception, the graduation committee worked hard to plan and execute a physically-distanced graduation where all of the seniors were able to safely gather, hear their name called and their parents cheer, have their photo taken, flip their tassel, throw their cap, and even parade through the ‘honk & holler lot” of friends and alumni.

Click here for more graduation photos posted on Facebook.

It was definitely not a typical senior year but, as proud coyotes, we adapted academically, socially, emotionally, and always physically-distanced out of love and respect for all. Congratulations to the GWCS Class of 2020!

GW Community School
Senior Celebration & Graduation
June 13, 2020