SENDING OFF SENIORS

SENDING OFF THE SENIORS

CPHS cancels prom, decides to host seniors only “Friday Night Lights - CPHS Class of 2021 Sendoff” event on football field

BY NOLAN CHASE EMILY HELMUTH co-editor-in-chiefs

This school year has been an unusual one, as a worldwide pandemic has halted the way we normally live our lives. Particularly in schools, students have gone through three different learning models to go with COVID-19 concerns and many typical events have been canceled or very heavily adjusted.

Dances were no exception to this, as both the homecoming dance and turnabout dance were canceled this school year. Prom has been canceled as well. An email from principal Russ Marcinek sent to senior parents Wednesday, March 10 explains the reasoning behind this.

“Recently, the Indiana Department of Health provided guidelines to high schools regarding prom. Those guidelines include the following: masks worn at all times, social distancing maintained, (and) no food,” Marcinek wrote. “These guidelines would be difficult, if not impossible, to adhere to. Even if we were able to maintain these standards, our students would not have a traditional prom experience. As a result, we will not be hosting a prom in 2021.”

Instead of a prom, the school has decided to host an event called “Friday Night Lights - CPHS Class of 2021 Sendoff.” Senior class sponsor Ginny Zega will be planning this and describes the differences between this event and prom.

“It’s totally different. It’s not a prom at all,” Zega said. “It has nothing to do with prom. It’s just a casual celebration for the seniors and it’s seniors only. We will have bags and spike ball and hopefully a dunk tank and some light music; it’s just kind of like a fair. It would be unstructured by us. We have goody bags coming for all the seniors that will include random gift cards and stuff like that. It’s not a replacement for prom, it’s just a celebration because there is no prom.”

Along with Zega, many parents, clubs and teachers will be helping with the event as well.

“There’s lots of people helping. We have parents helping and then I have the national art society and the art club helping to make decorations. There will be teachers and parents to chaperone,” Zega said. “We want it to be a fun atmosphere and something so that the seniors know that they’re special and this is just for them. We all feel bad. I’m excited though that I finally get to plan something.

Zega also notes some of the advantages that she believes there are for seniors in hosting this event.

“There will not be any economic differences. Prom is expensive. This is free to get into and everything will be free except the food trucks,” Zega said. “We will have water there for everybody so they can have something to drink and it’s just (going to be) a nice time.”

Senior Connor McCloskey agrees with the school’s decision to host this event, and says that he understands the decision to not hold a school sponsored prom.

“I would definitely attend the celebration on the football field over an actual school hosted prom given COVID-19,” McCloskey said. “Prom would be too close and the safer option is to do a celebration outdoors and social distance.”

Zega adds that COVID-19 impacted planning the event, as she notes that contact tracing played a role in the location and date.

“We were told by the health department that we could have a prom but everyone would have to remain three feet apart at all times. They would have to wear masks at all times and no food. Our students don’t dance three feet apart,” Zega said. “So we

‘‘ I think it should only be seniors. Even though everyone has had a terrible year and gotten mostly everything taken away, the other classes will always have a chance to have the same celebrations, or even more, during their own senior year.

senior Emily Karamacoski

felt like we were really constricted and we Like McCloskey, senior Emily Karamadidn’t think it would be worth their while. Es- coski believes that seniors should be the only pecially if we had a venue, we would have to ones to attend the event. Karamacoski recogpay for that venue and it would be expensive nizes that although other students have missed for basically nothing.” out on things this year, seniors should be the

Unlike most school events, “Friday Night priority. Lights” will be a seniors-only event. Zega ex- “I think it should only be seniors. Even plains why this decision was made. though everyone has had a terrible year and

“We do have to follow some health codes gotten mostly everything taken away, the other and we want to make it so the seniors have classes will always have a chance to have the something of their own. I think it’s more because everybody felt sorry for last year’s seniors and they had everything except prom basically. They got a graduation, ‘‘ There will not be any economic differences. Prom is expensive. This is free to get into and evsame celebrations, or even more during their own senior year,” Karamacoski said. While Karamacoski believes that the event will differ greatly from a stanthe only thing they really missed out on was erything will be free exdard prom scenario, she also believes that it can ofthe last month of school cept the food trucks. fer some different opportuand prom. (This year’s nities. seniors) got nothing,” “I feel like it will be Zega said. “So I think senior class sponsor very different from a northe seniors need to feel special. We do have to Ginny Zega mal prom. But, compared to a traditional prom it monitor it, and we’re does seem like it will be worried about getting through more activity-filled and laid the end of the school year and not having to back and more of a last chance for the entire contact trace anybody.” senior class to get together before we all go

McCloskey believes that although it would our separate ways,” Karamacoski said. be nice to have other grades at the event, be- The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. cause of COVID-19 it makes sense to him to on Friday, May 14. Seniors interested in atlimit the event to just seniors. tending the event can get a wristband at lunch

“It should be seniors only. Since the se- the day of the event or in front of the football niors this year have had a whole year of messed field during the event and must show either a up schooling and missed events like home- driver’s license or student ID to prove their secoming and turnabout, we deserve at least one niority. Seniors will also be required to sign a event to look forward to before graduation,” waiver about practicing appropriate behavior McCloskey said, “I would be more willing for at the event. other grades to attend if there wasn’t a limit Zega suggests that any students or parents on attendance, but since there is, it should be interested in helping with the event contact her seniors only.” at gzega@cps.k12.in.us.

WHAT DO THEY THINK: SENIOR SENDOFF

“(I think that) Friday Night Lights is going to be better than prom.” -senior Blake Pysh “I think it’s cool that despite tough circumstances with COVID-19, the school is trying their best to give students a positive ending to their senior year. It may not be prom, but at least it’s something.” -senior Madison Flewelling “I really like (the idea) to be honest and I think it’s going to be really cool.” -senior Anthony Saberniak “It’s a good idea (and) nice of the school to try to do, but I don’t feel like it really makes up for prom being canceled.” -senior Kylie Gutyan

INKLINGS 5 INTHEKNOW

SAT exam date set and free of charge

On Tuesday April 13, juniors will be able to take the SAT test. The test will be completely free of charge and will be taken during that school day. The sign up deadline to take the test was March 3. Students are encouraged by the school to use free test prep programs such as ACT Academy and Khan Academy to prepare for the test.

NHS application deadline up soon

NHS student applications for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have been invited to be a part of the society will end on March 26. Any student who has completed a minimum of three semesters of high school who meet the minimum GPA requirement as well as have completed five hours of community service per semester of high school are invited to apply. As a member, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.60, complete 20 service points per year, maintain a positive disciplinary record, and pay the $20 yearly dues.

Spring play postponed until April

Due to contact tracing some of the students on the cast and crew for 2021 CPHS spring musical “High School Musical On Stage!” have been quarantined. The previous March performances have now been pushed back to April, 8, 9, 10, and 11. And as a result of these complications all previously purchased tickets will be refunded beginning on March 12. New ticket sales will start soon and on a new platform called Professional by AudienceView.