UC High staff and students have had their year cut out for them, especially for the class of 2021. During the pandemic, UC High students and staff have had to put their best feet forward to allow education to continue and maintain a semblance of normalcy. As the school year tapers to an end, staff and students have come together to  schedule a number of events to celebrate the graduating class.

   Guidelines and restrictions from the pandemic put into question what big senior activities — like Prom, graduation, and Grad Nite — would be available for seniors. Many students still have questions: how is graduation going to work? Is Prom still being planned?

   Graduation this year will no doubt be held differently compared to typical graduation ceremonies. The school’s goal is to have all graduating seniors and parents attend the ceremony. According to a live Zoom that was held March 3, Principal Jeff Olivero explained that currently UC High and many other high schools located in San Diego are working on a contract with the Padres to host graduation ceremonies at Petco Park, where families could be more easily spaced out than in a high school stadium. UC High has landed a date for this years graduation ceremony: Saturday June 12, at 3:00pm, so mark your calendars! 

   Seniors this year will be able to attend Prom. Junior ASB Student Mackenzie Conor said, “[With] this year coming to an end, it’s extremely important to focus on our seniors and being able to give them as many activities they can do as possible.” Prom this year will be held on June 5 at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in the Regatta Pavilion. The celebration is planned for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and tickets will be available starting April 5 (uchs.sandiegounified.org). 

   In a standard senior year, there’s a senior trip, usually one night at Disneyland. However, this year, the trip will be at Universal Studios. This event will be held on March 28 and will require a permission slip. Tickets will also be sold starting April 5 (uchs.sandiegounified.org).

   This year has stolen lots of memories and events from our seniors and UC High’s ASB is working with staff to make sure to host some extra events that the Senior Class can enjoy. There will be a Senior Movie and Dinner Night, which will be held on June 11. This is a free event open to all seniors. A Senior Night is also in the works, although not all the details have been ironed out. ASB plans to figure out something special for seniors to enjoy (uchs.sandiegounified.org).

   With the year coming to a close, luckily seniors will be able to celebrate and commemorate their high school career with many school-sponsored celebrations.