CSD Seniors Miss Some Key Milestones

Health and safety concerns have kept students out of school since mid-April. For Cascade High School (CHS) seniors, the hardship extends far beyond the academic challenges of replicating classroom learning via online platforms.

They’re finishing up class work and final projects and studying for exams, but they’ve had to give up much of the earned rewards of senior year.

“I miss my teachers and the administration who have all been so supportive throughout the really stressful parts of this year, like applications and decision-making with my future. Now the stressful parts are over, and we don’t even get to enjoy it,” said Kascia Muscutt, the valedictorian for the Class of 2020. “I lessened my workload for this semester so I could have fun with my classmates and allow my final semester to be the best, and it’s been set aside.”

Even though teenagers are tech-savvy, interactions over Zoom and Facetime or via texting pale in comparison to hanging out in person. “It’s definitely harder to stay connected to my friends,” said Muscutt. “Normally I don’t have to make plans to see the people I care about, but now I really have to reach out.”

Senior Olivia Winters recognizes the challenge but is upbeat about dealing with it. “I am still very connected with my friends online,” she said. “And my family is doing well. We’re all staying busy in our own ways.”

The loss of extracurriculars and sports is hardest on seniors, who have honed their skills over the years, and deserve to shine in the game, meet, concert, play or competition. For Muscutt, one of those activities was track.

“I’ve been running track since 7^th grade, so missing out on my last season and last opportunity to run at state is sad for me. Plus, I only had last year to compete with my sister [who is two years younger], and I really wish we could have run the 4x400m together one more time. At the beginning of the school closure, myself and a couple other seniors organized track practices without our coaches’ involvement, but now the track is closed off and we are just running on our own or not at all.”

Senior Natalie Craig has missed out on her last high school golf season. “Golf had started about two weeks before school closed. I’ve not been able to connect with my teammates or play golf since then because of the stay-at-home restrictions, but on May 4^th, they reopened outdoor recreation.”

On the academic side, Malia Renner-Singer, CHS history teacher, said, “Twelfth grade students complete a ‘capstone’ project in their CWCW class called Project Citizen. Project Citizen is a six-week long research project; students collaborate in small groups to identify a problem in our school, community, region or state and research that problem.”

Craig has found Project Citizen to be impacted by the school closure. “It’s been very difficult collaborating with my group, and we will no longer have the opportunity to present in front of the City Council,” she said.

Renner-Singer, however, has been impressed with the seniors’ work-ethic toward their research, writing and preparation for Project Citizen presentation. “The work my students have been doing is incredible,” she said.

Prom, like all other large gatherings, had to be cancelled. Same with the senior trip to Silverwood and Lake Coeur d’Alene. Some seniors are mourning the loss of another local tradition even more—the Senior Stroll, when seniors get to walk through the elementary schools and the middle school, celebrating their upcoming graduation with former teachers and serving as ‘rock star’ role models for younger students. Winters said, “It’s very sad because I was really looking forward to that.”

Craig called the Senior Stroll, “the biggest milestone.” She said, “I was disappointed we won’t be able to participate, especially since my peers and I have watched the previous seniors for many years.”

A graduation ceremony is still occurring on June sixth, is in limbo. “We are expecting that this ceremony will look very different this year,” Tracey Beckendorf-Edou, CSD superintendent said in a recent statement. “We will be providing information to seniors and their families as soon as we possibly can.”

Seniors would be willing to wait to ensure it is truly a culminating event. “Even if it is postponed until public health increases, I think all seniors should have a chance to walk and receive their diploma,” said Craig.

Muscutt summed it up for many seniors by saying, “I have been waiting to accept my diploma and hug my parents and friends after the ceremony. It has looked like such a warm and pure experience. I wanted to cheer with everyone, watch the slideshow with all of our baby pictures and cry a little with my younger friends that I am ‘leaving behind.’ Graduation is a rite-of-passage, and even if it has to happen in late July, it should.”