Graduation 2021

The last round of Osceola County high school graduates turned their tassels from left to right and threw their caps into the air Tuesday night at Osceola Heritage Park.

OHP served as the central graduation site for the county’s Class of 2021 with 4,380 students walking across the stage since commencement ceremonies began last week.

Most of the 13 schools were spaced out over Friday, Saturday and Sunday with three graduations each day. Each grad was allowed to bring six guests to the 11,500-seat arena, which left ample space for social distancing.

Students beamed as they walked across the stage to receive their diploma and shake hands with their principals, Superintendent Debra Pace and various School Board officials who attended ceremonies in their districts.

The district broadcasted each event live over the holiday weekend. Some 400-500 viewers tuned in to its YouTube channel for the eight larger high schools.

“We were very excited that family members were able to be a part of the celebration — even if virtual. All our students worked so hard over their school years that it was wonderful to be able to make it more accessible so that everyone could see this important milestone,” said Dana Schafer, Director of Community Relations for the Osceola County School District.

It was difficult to predict how the 2020-21 academic school year would go with the ongoing pandemic, not just in Osceola County but around the world.

Some classmates only got to meet online and never got to play together at recess. For those who were able to attend classes in person, COVID-19 prevention practices were integrated into every facet of the school day.

Whether they did school work online or went to campus, students going to school in the age of the pandemic have been learning in new ways. Likewise, teachers also have been conveying information and nurturing their students in different ways.

Parents, teachers and administrators still are interacting in ways no one could have predicted when school started last August.

Friday was the last official day of the school year but many students and parents are still deciding about summer school, which starts June 7.

The district is offering a robust summer program that caters to students at all levels with different opportunities for remediation, acceleration and enrichment, Schafer said.

Starting June 8, students’ families also can begin picking up free bags of food at 13 school locations as part of the longstanding, federally funded Summer Food Service Program.

The USDA program is administered by states and reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months.

The following schools will distribute the curbside pick-up service Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-9:30 a.m.

HIGH SCHOOLS:

Celebration, Gateway, Harmony, Liberty, Tohopekaliga, St. Cloud

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:

Ventura, Neptune, KOA, Kissimmee, Sunrise

ALSO:

Westside K-8 School, Zenith Accelerated Learning Academy