Avon Lake Plans Light-Based Celebration For Graduating Seniors

AVON LAKE, OH — On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced all K-12 schools in Ohio would be closed for the remainder of the school year. While the decision will have an impact on the Avon Lake Schools, it won't stop remote learning, which has been ongoing since mid-March. It also won't stop the community from celebrating graduating high school seniors.

"This announcement saddens all of us, but we must remember that the health of our students and all of the residents in Avon Lake and Ohio is our priority," said Avon Lake Schools Superintendent Robert Scott in a letter to the community.

The end of the school year typically includes a bevy of festivities, like prom, graduation, concerts and other performances. Scott said the district will do everything it can to make this year feel as special and warm as any previous year.

"The hard part of this change is that many of our normal activities held at the end of the school year will not happen or will be very different than in the past. The good part is that with this most recent announcement of school buildings now being closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year we can now focus our plans for the end of this school year and for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. It will be different, but it will be exciting and great!" Scott said.

To that end, the district will celebrate the class of 2020 by turning on the football stadium lights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:20 p.m. for 20 minutes. Residents are being asked to turn on their porch lights for 20 minutes (from 8:20 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.) to support Avon Lake students who are finishing their high school careers.

The light shows will continue until June 5.

On April 28, the district is encouraging community members to walk to the end of their driveway (or simply stand outside) and clap their hands, beat pans and simply be as loud as possible to show support for first responders. The event will start at 7 p.m. All of Avon and Avon Lake are being encouraged to participate.

"Just remember that together we are strong! Things will be different, but we will make the experience positive and fruitful. With a great staff, great students, great parents, and a great community we can overcome anything!" Scott said.