There’ll be no pomp, only circumstance.
Grade school ends today for DeKalb County School District seniors, their last year cut short by a coronavirus pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 76,000 in the United States alone. Seniors are ending two weeks earlier than their expected graduation dates. Students in grades pre-K through 11 have another week left.
Classes were moved online. Prom was cancelled. Graduation ceremonies may take place, albeit virtually, or later in the summer.
DeKalb was the first of the state's largest school districts to announce it would abbreviate the school year, ravaged by social distancing rules as officials attempted to curb the virus' spread.
Superintendent Ramona Tyson said the decision was made to end the year early so students would have a natural ending to what has been an unprecedented time, with many schools and businesses around the world shuttered for nearly two months so far.
What's next for many also is still uncertain, as colleges mull over when to physically begin classes or whether COVID-19 will keep campuses closed through the end of the year, at least.
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