Oxnard Union High School District releases graduation plans

OXNARD, Calif. -- The Oxnard Union High School District has released their plans to recognize the Senior Class of 2020.

“I don’t think in a million years anyone could of predicted that the schools would be closed for the remainder of the year,” said Dr. Penelope Deleon, Oxnard Union High School District Superintendent.

The Stay-Well-At-Home order put an end to Senior year of high school as we know it.

“This is the time of the year we have senior awards night, we have academic awards and scholarships given out,” said Ted Lawrence, who is the Pacifica High School Principal. “We have grad night, you know all the good that comes out of four years of work has essential been ripped away from these kids.”

The Oxnard Union High School District spent weeks brainstorming new ways to honor seniors.

“What do we do to celebrate the 13 years of education that they have had?” said Dr. Deleon.

The district came up with a few options. First, lawn signs will be distributed to every senior. Second, a virtual graduation.

“We are going to have all the speeches, the principal speech and senior singer,” said Dr. Deleon. “We will have a slide of every single senior and their senior picture along with their accomplishments next to their photo.”

Each high school in the district is also planning individual celebrations.

“We will bring them all together, with social distancing in mind, on to the campus to go up on stage in our gym, take a picture and receive their diploma,” said Lawrence. “This way they can actually experience hearing their name called, walking the stage and receiving their diploma.”

Other high schools in the district are also preparing small parades.

“We are going to do our very best to make it special, powerful, and to make them feel loved and valued,” said Lawrence.

For more information on the graduation plan in the Oxnard Union High School District, please visit the link below.