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PSS student rep pushes changes to drive-thru graduation for 2021
Speaking on behalf of Public School System students, PSS student representative Rainalyn Reyes asked the Board of Education last Tuesday for a few changes to their drive-thru graduation.
During a meeting of the BOE Committee on Student Issues, Community, and Parental Programs, Reyes raised some possible changes to the drive-thru graduation for the Class of 2021, including allowing the graduating students to get down from their cars to pose for pictures at the podium.
Though she understands that it’s a “done deal” for a drive-thru graduation, Reyes says there are many students who have been “wanting and pushing” for a more traditional graduation this year.
“A lot of students have been wanting and pushing, asking around if everyone would agree on a traditional graduation but I understand that it’s a done deal. I just want to bring up how our students are sad that we don’t do the traditional, but we hope that, apart from how we did it last year, there’s some few changes,” said Reyes.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, BOE chair Andrew Orsini said many graduating students have expressed a desire to have a traditional graduation—an in-person graduation—with some limitations that fit into the COVID-19 guidelines.
Orsini said the conversation whether to have an in-person graduation or not was brought up in a previous board meeting, with students and parents wanting a “more formal graduation ceremony” for the students. He said if BOE and PSS will accommodate that, then Rota and Tinian will also be having an in-person graduation.
