What’s Happened Recently: School Year ends Online
The 2019-2020 school year at Highland has come to quite the unconventional end. Due to concerns about COVID-19, Highland students stayed home for online learning.
Thanks to each student having a school-distributed iPad, students were able to stay in contact with teachers and continue to learn from the safety of their own home.
The timeframe for online learning lasted from spring break until the end of the year. The last day of learning for students was on May 20. On June 3, students were able to retrieve any of their items from the school, as well as drop off their iPads and textbooks, via curbside pickup/dropoff, officially putting the school year to a close.
Students also took Advanced Placement tests online as well. These tests will allow students to further their academic journey through high school, regardless if school is in-person or online upon the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
Coming Up: virtual graduation and Highland summer
With the school year now over, its officially summer break for Highland Students!
Although lots of events that Highland residents can usually expect are either cancelled or delayed, and clubs are taking necessary precautionary measures, that doesn’t mean Highland residents can’t have a fun and safe summer. The town of Highland will be having a soft reopening on June 15, and residents are encouraged to continue to take precautions and stay safe and healthy.
Although we are heading into summer, there are still graduation celebrations that can be had for the recently graduated seniors! Highland graduates will be celebrated with a Class of 2020 Virtual Graduation to honor their hard work and achievements.
The event will take place on June 20 and will start at 1 p.m. The event is not sponsored by Highland High School, but instead organized by parents. The event will be broadcast for streaming. More information on the event will be released soon.
Regardless of the non-traditional graduation events, Highland is proud of their 2020 class.
Student Spotlight: Garret Hudnall
With the sudden conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year, the senior class had an early end to their final year at Highland High School, and for recent graduate Garret Hudnall, it was mix of emotions.
Hudnall’s first step as a graduate is to join the military, so he used the extra time at home wisely.
“I actually didn’t mind senior year ending early, as it gave me more time to spend with friends and family before I leave,” he said.
Although the end of the year was premature, it doesn’t take away from the hard work that it took to graduate, as well as the relief and satisfaction to have achieved such a goal.
“It feels great to finally be done,” he said.
Joining the military seemed like a natural step for him to make.
“I’ve always had a deep love for the armed forces.” Hudnall said.
Being part of the military is also something he has thought about for a while.
“This has been the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do since I was little.”
While deployed, he will certainly have the new experiences he has been thinking about since childhood.
“I look forward to meeting new people, as well as the places that I’ll see.”
Although things are uncertain in the world right now, Hudnall’s determination to follow his dreams will certainly take him places.