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Positive signs

Youngsville teachers, employees have ‘so much fun’ delivering yard signs to graduating seniors

Facebook photos Youngsville High School chemistry teacher Jolene Olewine volunteered to deliver signs to seniors on Wednesday.

There are signs of community spread all over the county — recognizing the members of the Warren County School District class of 2020.

How they are getting there is a sign of community in itself.

The Times Observer and the district worked together to prepare two yard signs for each senior in the district. One sign will remain on display outside the student’s alma mater. The other is being placed in the student’s yard at their home.

The western attendance area was the first to spread the signs into the community.

“Youngsville posted a picture of the (school copy) planted yard signs on the Youngsville Middle/High School Facebook page yesterday morning,” Youngsville Middle High School Principal Amy Beers said Wednesday. “They are spread out in front of the building.”

Youngsville teacher Stacey Robinault delivers a sign.

“Then, various faculty and staff delivered throughout the day and posted pictures as they planted them at senior students’ homes,” said Beers, calling it “truly, the best day we have had since March 13th.

“(Holly Burt) is a Health and PE teacher and she drove all around Garland and Grand Valley delivering,” said Beers. “She had to enlist the bus contractor to assist in finding some of the homes! It was a school community effort and so much fun.”

Beers said teachers and school employees volunteered their day and had fun doing it. “They were so excited and were at the school ready to go before I even got the signs out of my car!”

Officials at the other district high schools are working on or have completed their plans.

“On Thursday, Sheffield Area Middle High School will be delivering personalized yard signs to the homes of seniors,” Principal Glenn Smith said. “A small group of teachers and paraprofessionals will blanket the attendance area to deliver the mementos in person. Along with the signs, each senior is receiving a t-shirt commemorating their graduation, and the unique times they live in, which contains the hashtag # quarantined

seniors.”

Facebook photos Youngsville Health and PE teacher Holly Burt not only volunteered to deliver signs to seniors on Wednesday, she drove the bus!

District officials have repeatedly discussed the senior class and the experiences the students will miss out on or experience in limited ways.

The formal graduation ceremonies will be virtual. There could be additional celebrations, but not until gatherings of more than 25 people are again allowed in the state.

Proms are off the calendar.

The spring sports season was canceled by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (PIAA).

Arts and music performances — the last ones of those students’ scholastic careers – cannot be held.

Even the way school ended — with students heading home after a normal school day, knowing they would not return for a couple weeks — didn’t allow the farewells to friends, teachers and staff, and even the physical buildings that are common at the end of a normal school year.

The yard signs were one way for the district and the Times Observer to recognize the seniors.

“Is someone going to bring a sign to my house,” said someone on Facebook.

“They will be there sometime today!” was the quick response.

“Thanks to all that are part of the signs,” said a parent, Tammie Sherrard. “It is greatly appreciated.”

“We were completely surprised to find our sign!” said Kathy Marino-Brown. “Thank you so much to all who were involved from sponsors to the sneaky 2020 Grad Gift Crew! You’ve made a lot of our young people very happy today!”

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