New Facebook group unites families of AAPS seniors
By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor
Barb Zimdars had been looking forward to her son’s final months as a senior year at Pioneer High School.
Then the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything.
“Though there are many more important things with Covid-19, there was a group of people like me with high school seniors who were all trying to figure out how to navigate senior year for our soon-to-be high school graduates,” she says.
So she formed the Facebook group AA High Schools Class of 2020.
“The group was created to help support each other and share ideas to help and celebrate our class of 2020 students,” says Zimdars.
Meanwhile, Kristy Bajcz—whose son Jack is also a senior at Pioneer—joined the new Facebook group. She soon had an idea to sell 14-by-22-inch signs to be placed in the yards of graduates. The signs work for all AAPS high schools as parents and other supporters simply color in the cap and add the names of the high school and graduate.
“I’m sad that this is the end to their school year,” says Bajcz. “Yes, there are worst things. We want to keep it in perspective, but we want to still be able to celebrate under the circumstances. A yard sign is just something simple we can do to show solidarity with all the other families going through this with us.”
“The support we have gathered in a short period of time only shows the resilience of this class and this community. It is definitely something to celebrate.”
The plan is to include delivery or pick-up once it is safe to do so according to state and local government. Parent volunteers from each of the area high schools will lead the distribution for their school in a contactless and safe way.
The $10 donation pays for the signs, setup, wire, assembly and contactless pickup or delivery. Any money remaining after expenses are paid will go to the Ann Arbor Area Foundation in the name of the Class of 2020.
Standard Printing in Ypsilanti has agreed to produce the signs at a discounted rate.
To order a sign, click here. Payment is due by April 27.
Bajcz’s son Jack thinks the signs are a good way to show unity in a crisis.
“Kids all over the country are in the same position as us,” says Jack. “Missing graduation, crew and Science Olympiad competitions was difficult to hear one by one but now this is what needs to be done, and it is what it is.
“Let’s make the best of it and get through this.”
Be the first to comment