6/27/2020 Graduation Day

Here are teachers welcoming the students into Hilton Colosseum.  Normally the teachers are in the graduation ceremony...but no room today, since the kids were spaced far apart!  (Carolyn is the student farthest in the front.)

 Carolyn is in the middle of the far right row (curls)

Ken estimated that the class size was 410 (he counted in the program).  Each kid was allowed 4 guests, which is highly different than years past when the place is packed.  I didn't see too many elderly people although there were some.  (They had the kids seated  with 6 feet on all sides.)

Here is Carolyn going across the stage (The picture is from my friend Renea...my picture wasn't this good!  We were a full basketball court away from the stage.)  Carolyn was one of maybe 20 or 30 students who wore a mask for the ceremony and across the stage.  (One of her buddies from work wore a mask and I think they felt a bond of solidarity....her buddy pointed to her own mask when she was looking at Carolyn gave her a thumbs up or something.)  Carolyn's main group of friends did not wear masks, but to be fair 3 of her closest 9 friends didn't attend the ceremony (2 for the safety of family members). The school staff all had masks until they sat down, 6 feet from the students.  More students wore masks into/out of Hilton and maybe 40-60% of the guests wore masks.  (A disappointing amount for sure, but more than you would see at the grocery store in Iowa right now.)  I say disappointing because in our last note from the school they said, "they strongly encouraged masks".  I am proud that Carolyn didn't feel peer pressure to remove her mask.  She is so used to wearing masks at Hy-vee, it isn't a big deal anymore.  She is her own person for sure!! (GO Carolyn!!!)

Carolyn on the Jumbo-tron.

We bolted from the ceremony, not stopping to be in a super-spreader situation of photos outside of Hilton.  We drove to Ankeny and stopped at the Wilderness Preserve near our house.  Here are our favorite pictures.  Carolyn and I were so happy with how well they turned out!!!  (so therefore you get to see a bunch)  (esp. for Grandpa who we wished could have been with us, but knew it wasn't safe...Ken's parents don't have internet access to see them here, so I will print a bunch for all grandparents!!!)

 (we had the boys go to work today, since we only had 4 tickets anyway...and less is more in a pandemic)

Carolyn chose Fong's pizza as her final celebration dinner.  (if you haven't had it, I can only describe it as a fusion food....crab rangoon pizza and egg roll pizza....and for Ken - meat lovers :0)