Soon-to-be graduates pick up caps and gowns

PERKINS TWP. – A lively group of Perkins Schools staff cheered for 2020 seniors and their families as they picked up graduation caps and gowns Tuesday afternoon. High school principal Jeff Harbal said caps and gowns are usually distributed during school lunch periods. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the school closure, Perkins handed out the items in the form of a drive-thru. Staff held up signs and gave out cookies as a sweet treat. Some seniors were shocked when they were also handed a letter they wrote to themselves in Mary Darr's class when they were in the sixth grade. "We're trying to create as many special memories as we can for this group," Harbal said. "We have a pretty wild and crazy staff so the kids are getting a good laugh out of it." For seniors Josie Andres and Ryleigh Keller, it's a senior year they didn't expect. Both of them described the experience of picking up their cap and gown as "weird." Andres drove the same route to the high school as she would on a typical school day. She said this time made her feel sad but she felt better when she saw all the support from the staff. Keller said the staff went above and beyond and she enjoyed seeing the signs they made. "They definitely care about us – it's clear," Keller said.