LEXINGTON — Like most high school students, Erica Payne was excited for her senior year. She studied hard. She already bought a prom dress.
So when schools across the state closed due to COVID-19, Payne felt anxious and disappointed.
“Everybody looks forward to the end of the school year, being a senior and graduating, having spirit week for the seniors, senior pranks,” said Payne, a senior at Lexington High School.
It came as a relief to Payne and many others when Lexington’s High School principal, Kevin Young, sent seniors a letter telling them not to give up on end-of-the-year celebrations.
“I will do everything in my power to give you a proper senior year send-off,” Young wrote.
The principal went on to say that prom is currently scheduled for May 2 and graduation for May 24, but that the district has set back-up dates in June and July.
Depending on how long public health restrictions are place, prom could be held June 26 or July 24, with graduation on June 28 or July 26.
“It was a relief to know that even though we might not have our celebrations right now, we’re going to have them eventually,” Payne said.
Young’s letter was also meaningful to Payne’s mother, Heidi.
“As a parent, it was devastating to see her so upset,” she said. “She has worked so hard the last four years to be able to graduate with honors. All the seniors deserve to be recognized for all their hard work.”
Taryn Berry, whose son Kaydan will also graduate this spring, agreed.
“They work their tails off for 13 years and there’s nothing that a parent wants more than to see their kid walk across that stage,” she said. “It’s every parent’s dream.”
Young said that after schools shut down, many of his staff members were especially concerned about the senior class.
“Senior year, that’s kind of the best time of their life,” Young said. “Senior prom and senior graduation are two of the most important highlights that we all look back on.”
Young said the idea for back-up dates came from school administrators in Cleveland, who shared the idea on Twitter.
“Our senior class this year, they’re a strong and determined group,” he said. “It’s been on my mind for several days now, ‘What can we do to make things a little more normal for them?'”
Young’s letter also stated the school would make additional lessons and course material, scholarship information and transcript requests available to students by March 30.
“It was good to know that Mr. Young knows that we’re all going through it and is looking out for us,” Payne stated.
Young encouraged all high school students to keep up with their online coursework and stay positive.
