One hundred eighty-eight seniors would have walked the stage as the first graduating class for Arkansas Connections Academy May 31.
Instead, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that’s shut down gatherings of more than 10 people, these seniors will have both a virtual ceremony and individual ceremonies with five of their closest family members.
“We are very excited and we definitely are trying to do everything we can to make this special and memorable for them,” said Nicole Stephens, assistant principal for Arkansas Connections Academy.
ACA is an online public school available to students across the state at no cost. Students work with teachers on a state-standard curriculum.
Stephens said when ACA opened in 2016, it started with students in kindergarten through 9th grade, and each year, a new grade with its curriculum was added.
She said the school had every intention of having a live graduation ceremony, but moved to a virtual one complete with a presentation for students at 2 p.m. May 31, the same time and date as the original ceremony. The virtual ceremony will also feature remarks ACA school board president Dennis Beck.
On top of that, Stephens said the school put together an individual ceremony for its students, which would be hosted at its main office in Bentonville. The optional ceremony asks students to sign up for a 30 minute time slot where they would arrive in cap and gown and with their five closest family members.
Stephens said students, and their families, would be able to have their picture taken by a professional photographer in their graduation regalia along with their diploma and principal Darla Gardner.
For Zillia Wooten, an El Dorado resident and senior at ACA, although she may not take advantage of the individual ceremony, she’s still excited to graduate with her classmates virtually.
“I was rather saddened (when the live ceremony was canceled) because I was really looking forward to seeing all my classmates and seeing my parents and my whole family right in front of me, cheering me on as I walked,” Wooten said. “It’s definitely different. Either way, though, I’m still glad we still get a ceremony because…honestly, I’m just glad. And hey, I’m still getting a party, so it can’t be all that bad.”
Wooten started being home-schooled in the 3rd grade, but moved online in the 8th. Once she started 9th grade, though, she began with ACA.
She said it’s amazing to be part of ACA’s first graduating class.
“It’s definitely a new experience,” she said.
Wooten said she’s learned a slew of things with ACA, but highlighted communication skills and being able to make friends.
“When I started out in connections, I had terrible social skills — I was all over the place, socially awkward, I didn’t know how to answer stuff correctly… I was a huge anxious mess,” she said.
Now, she’s more focused. She also said her teachers, specifically her geometry, first English and history teachers, helped by treating her normally and by being kind.
After graduation, Wooten said she hopes to take a year off before college. She said she wanted to get her driver’s license, a bank account and a part-time job to save up for a new car.
Stephens said the school is also working on a virtual cap throwing for its seniors where they’ll be able to post a video of themselves throwing their cap after the ceremony.
She also said this year’s seniors are invited back to walk the stage at next year’s ceremony.