City to Proclaim “Honoring the High School Senior Class of 2020 Week”

June 1, 2020 -- At tonight’s meeting of the Wilsonville City Council, Mayor Tim Knapp is officially designating the week of June 1-5 as “Honoring the High School Senior Class of 2020 Week”

This week, about 300 Wilsonville-area students are completing a school year abruptly altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In collaboration with the City of West Linn and the West Linn-Wilsonville School District Board of Directors, the City seeks to honor Wilsonville’s resilient Class of 2020.

“May this early test of your ambition, patience, and resolve help you overcome future obstacles,” said Knapp, acknowledging the challenges and disappointments in a recorded a video message posted on the City’s social media channels. “You will yet find opportunities, unforeseen pathways, and chances to contribute to building a new world around us.”

Tonight’s proclamation, to declare the week of June 1-5, 2020, as “Honoring the High School Senior Class of 2020 Week,” reads:

WHEREAS, the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an abrupt closure of school buildings, enforced social distancing and the launch of distance learning; and

WHEREAS, the Class of 2020 this spring has experienced the cancelation of important in-person celebrations, traditions and activities such as award ceremonies, robotics competitions, musical performances, theatre productions, athletic events and activities, artistic showcases, Prom, May Day, Spring Fest; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Class of 2020 are experiencing their high school graduation ceremony through social distancing guidelines; and

WHEREAS, the Class of 2020 has been patient, understanding, creative, inspiring and resilient through each of these changes and layers of loss; and

WHEREAS, the Wilsonville City Council congratulates and honors the school work and completion of credits by the High School Senior Class of 2020,

NOW THEREFORE, I, Tim Knapp, Mayor of the City of Wilsonville, encourage all citizens to join with our neighbors, the West Linn-Wilsonville School District Board of Directors, the Canby School District Board of Directors and the communities of West Linn, Wilsonville and Canby by declaring the week of June 1-5, 2020, as “Honoring the High School Senior Class of 2020 Week.”

Both area high schools are holding “drive-thru” graduation ceremonies this week to recognize the milestone accomplishment of Wilsonville’s newest graduates. The Arts & Technology High School ceremony is Wednesday afternoon, the Wilsonville High School ceremony follows Thursday afternoon.

Community members can view tonight’s City Council meeting on cable (Comcast/Xfinity Ch. 30, Frontier Ch. 32) or on the City’s YouTube channel: ci.wilsonville.or.us/WilsonvilleTV.