Recent stay-at-home orders related to COVID-19 are postponing and canceling long-standing and long-anticipated San Marino High School graduation activities.
In recognition of the unanticipated impact social distancing has had on the grads, several members of the San Marino Teachers Association (SMTA) recently showed their support by placing a yard sign with the hashtag #ALLINTHISTOGETHER at the home of every member of the 2020 senior class.
“Teachers really miss seeing their students every day,” said Scott Barton, a longtime science teacher and SMTA representative. “We know how much our seniors were looking forward to their fourth quarter activities. The yard signs are just a simple way of recognizing them and letting them know that they aren’t alone in trying to cope with the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on them. We wanted the senior class to know we are thinking of them.”
SMHS seniors reside not only in San Marino, but several neighboring communities including Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia, San Gabriel and Alhambra, among others. SMTA members wore gloves and practiced safe social distancing as they went about placing their “as-SIGN-ments” throughout the region.
“I had so much fun with this and loved the opportunity SMTA provided for teachers to show support,” said math teacher Jamie Linton, who is also an SMTA rep. “I hope all of our students know how much we teachers miss seeing them in person and that our senior class of 2020, in particular, knows that we want them to feel celebrated.”
The SMTA represents over 185 members, including teachers, counselors and specialists. Their 2019-20 motto, “Lean In and Move Forward,” was designed to serve as a rallying cry as teachers embraced the challenges created by distance learning while awaiting several layoffs due to budget deficits.
Teachers Give a Different ‘As-SIGN-ment’ to 2020 Grads
