Graduation has been postponed for all Clark County School District seniors, according to a statement issued by the district on Friday. The announcement came a month after schools close to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“I can’t imagine the sense of loss [seniors] are experiencing and will never say ‘I understand’ because I never will,” Principal Tam Larnerd said. “Your entire life, growing up, you hear about and envision your own prom, senior trip, senior sunset and graduation, along with your own graduation party. My heart hurts for the class of 2020.”

The district also said they will allow schools to plan their own individual celebrations for seniors, as long as they comply with the social distancing regulations made by the Centers for Disease Control. Larnerd said that he will meet with senior student leaders, senior teachers, administrators and the student council advisor, Ms. Rivera, to discuss options to celebrate Spring Valley seniors.

“One option is having smaller ceremonies in August in our own gym,” Larnerd said. “Possibly breaking the 600 seniors up into groups of 50 to 75 and having eight to 12 ceremonies. The plan would be to create a system so students could sign up for which ceremony they would like to attend so that they could graduate with their friends, rather than an alpha breakdown.”

Many seniors said they were devastated when they heard the news. Some, such as Nevaeh Piccione, share the heartbreak with their families

“I’m very hurt about graduation being [postponed],” Piccione said. “I can’t help but break into tears every time I think about a lost opportunity I worked so hard for.”

Other seniors, such as Tanis Kollmeyer, are more worried about their futures.

“This delays the next step in my life,” Kollmeyer said. “Getting a job has been postponed, moving out, going to college. It’s been slightly stressful, but I’m working with my teachers to do everything we can. It’ll work itself out so long as we all put our best foot forward.”

Larnerd said that he also feels for the class of 2020, not just for possibly missing out on graduation, but for not having the many “rite of passage” moments previous senior classes have had before them.

“While they will collect the bureaucratic accolade of a diploma and GPA, they will likely not have the rites of passage that everyone before them has had,” Larnerd said. “Their sacrifice will make the class of 2020 be remembered forever.”