Ida Crown Hosts Graduation Ceremony In August

By Hannah Stein- 

    Amid the strangest of springs because of a global pandemic, fifty seniors graduated from Ida Crown Jewish Academy. This year’s graduation was unparalleled in many ways: the seniors and their families sat six feet apart outside, everyone had to wear masks, only one person could be on the stage at a time, and only immediate family members could join the graduation ceremony in person. Regardless of the extenuating circumstances, the seniors were smiling. 

    The graduation took place on Ida Crown’s soccer field, with groups of six chairs for the immediate family of each graduate. Grandparents and other faculty members watched the ceremony from cars parked in the parking lot and over facebook live.  

    Liat Mott, the former senior class president, opened the ceremony. She spoke about how her senior class represents resilience. These graduates were not afforded the chance to hug their friends in celebration or heartache, and they also lost the last quarter of their senior year. Mott explained that although they were not afforded these opportunities, that does not mean that they had a bad senior year; if anything they will forever remember their senior year and graduation, something that most people forget. 

    Later in the ceremony, Josh Pogonitz spoke. Pogonitz did not focus on the parts of their senior year that were taken away, rather he basked in the positive aspects of it:” We lost our senior year, and no that’s not fair” he said.  “We still had our senior Shabbaton, we had retreat, we had the tools to have a great senior year, we still have times to hold onto. They are some of the most indescribably special moments of high school,” spoke Pogonitz. 

    Joey Greenberg also spoke at the ceremony, describing the qualities of the graduating class and highlighting the students’ passion for making a difference in the school and community. 

    Ida Crown parents and community expressed their appreciation for the altered ceremony. “We were so impressed with every part” explained Aviva Robinson, mother of a graduating senior.  “Each student and their family were seated in their own pod with a beautiful flag printed with their last name on it, ice cold water bottles and masks on each seat, the graduates were greeted beautifully by Rabbi Matanky’s remarks as well as their fellow classmates. The sun was shining and a beautiful celebration of four great years for the class of 2020 was had,” she said. Robinson thought that this year’s graduation, although different, was spectacular; she was so proud of not only her own daughter, but also all of the graduating seniors. 

    Gilana Schwartz, a member of the 2020 graduating class explained the significance the graduation ceremony had to him: “By holding graduation safely, ICJA showed that this pandemic does not have the power to drive a schism through the Jewish community; the Jewish community will always find a way to stay together, even when we cannot literally be together” he explained. “It was a great conclusion to a great four years at Ida Crown.”