Dear LFHS Staff, D115 Administration, D115 School Board Members and LFPD:
Thank you does not adequately express our gratitude for the incredible graduation ceremony for the LFHS Class of 2020. I hope that you all feel the joy and love the students and families felt yesterday. The love was in the air and you could FEEL it.
As a mother of senior, I had a front row seat to the very unfamiliar ending of the senior year for the class of 2020. Caroline participated in the LFHS Talent Show in late February and the LFHS TedX on March 12th, 2020. She came home from school that Thursday afternoon and didn’t go back until yesterday. As we all suddenly to sheltered in place and the world watched one thing after another be cancelled, I watched my senior hope and pray that things would somehow return to normal before the end of her senior year of high school. As time went on the prom was cancelled and then graduation looked like it would be entirely virtual with no opportunity to return to LFHS and walk across the stage to receive a diploma. When the decision was made to do a combination virtual/drive through ceremony on June 6th instead of holding out for a potential in person ceremony in July or August, Caroline was beyond disappointed. The hope she had held onto for two months was gone. May 13th was a tough day for her. I have to admit that despite the efforts of many people (in the family and the community) things were pretty grim in our house. That all changed for good at 9 am yesterday morning.
At 9 am our family gathered in front of our TV in our pajamas (with coffee and donuts) and watched as our Superintendent, Principal, the school board members and three students walked out the doors of LFHS dressed for graduation ceremonies. Our Superintendent and Principal gave deeply moving, thoughtful and thought-provoking speeches. Their emotions were evident and palpable. Haley Banta and Sarah Bires gave equally thoughtful speeches about the past the students shared together and the future they see before them. Sarah reminded the students that they would have more March 12ths in their future, days that you don’t realize at the time are the last of something. And then we heard and saw the incredible performance created by Tim Haskett, who was honored as the Educator of the year in a touching speech by Lilly Michael. If you don’t know Tim personally, you’ve seen him at the Annual Tree Lighting and heard him sing. Lilly referred to him as magical and he has inspired her to pursue a career in teaching. She wants to teach the way he does and when she does another generation of students will benefit from Mr. Heskett’s talent and care.
When the speeches were over what happened over the next six hours was nothing short of spectacular. Through the incredible and clearly joyful efforts of the LFHS staff, the DII5 Administration, D115 School Board, and LFPD 406 students and their families showed up in cars decorated with balloons and signs and each student walked across that stage as Paul Goldstein read their name. They received their diploma and had their photo taken while their family had a prime seat from their car to capture it all on camera. As they exited the stage, none other than Ricky Miles directed them to their cars and then said, “head over to remote parking to see your teachers.”
We left the school and drove to remote parking and as we pulled in the music blared, the teachers jumped up and down with signs and they cheered. They cheered for their students. Please note that Caroline’s last name is Zeeman. She was the 5th to last student of the day and you would have thought my daughter was named Caroline AAA-zeeman the way those teachers cheered. It was 4:50 pm. This mom officially “lost it” and the tears flowed like rain. My daughter — and all the student of the LFHS class of 2020 felt so loved by their teachers.
There are so many incredible teachers and staff members at LFHS. I’d like to thank EVERYONE who helped make yesterday not only better than I could ever have imagined, but one that made my daughter smile for the camera. It was the first real smile I’ve seen in a long time. That was the smile I’d been longing to see for three months and you made it happen LFHS. Thank you!
With deep gratitude
Martha Zeeman
