“Senior Knock Out Pizza today!” and “Online Order Chipotle Fundraiser & Contest & Prizes!” read the enthusiastic headlines that fill the Loopmail inboxes of seniors as their class fundraisers continue to be promoted. While it isn’t news that the same fundraisers held for the past four years by the current senior class council are still in progress, the circumstances of the pandemic have posed a sense of unfamiliarity regarding the events this year as a new question has surfaced: What will the senior class fundraising proceeds go toward if there will potentially be no in-person senior events in need of funding?

In the past, the money raised from freshman through senior year by the class council has gone toward paying for the lineup of senior events that take place the last week of school; these consist of “the senior trip, the senior breakfast, and the legacy night,” according to Senior Class Council Advisor Mrs. Woolley. 

While Sage Creek students normally end their high school careers attending an extravagant pancake breakfast followed by a graduation walkthrough and an excursion to Disneyland before walking across the stage to be handed their diplomas, COVID-19 has brought a possible halt to these activities from taking place this year. 

“Right now, we’ve been told by the district to put [senior events] on pause,” however, “they haven’t said we can’t do [them],” said Woolley. 

However, while it is still not clear whether or not seniors will get the true ‘senior experience’ the last week of this school year, Woolley remains optimistic about the opportunity to hold these events. 

“[Senior events] are still on the book,” said Woolley. “I’m still really hopeful.” 

Despite the odds, the senior class council is “still planning on spending [the fundraising money] on the same thing” said Woolley, as there is no official confirmation the events are canceled yet. The senior class council will be meeting with Principal Schuveiller and the ASB executive board this week to discuss more on this subject.

In the meantime, the class council is continuing to put the majority of the fundraising money toward funding the senior trip. “We are planning on the trip to be at Universal Studios in L.A. because Disneyland isn’t letting us do it with COVID-19,” said Senior Class Council Treasurer Chloe Blankenhorn.

While the senior class council has their fingers crossed all will work out in their favor, they do have a backup plan in case events get canceled by the school district: the proceeds will go toward funding the senior class gift, a tradition held by all previous classes, while any leftover money will be left up to the seniors to decide how it will be spent.

“Do you want to create a sitting area? Do you want to donate books to the library? Do you want to donate it to the freshman incoming class? Do you want to put a plaque up somewhere?” said Mrs. Woolley, reflecting on the types of questions seniors will be confronted with answering in the form of a poll when deciding where the fundraising money will go.

While it is still unclear where the class fundraising money will officially go, seniors who have contributed to past fundraisers and those that are upcoming will still know one thing for sure: they will be able to leave a mark on the school before they leave in the form of their senior gift. 

Aside from this, the senior class fundraisers maintain their value as they are not only focused on raising money to hold these special occasions but also to create a more long-lasting sense of community within Sage Creek’s class of 2021. 

“Besides raising money of course, [the fundraisers are] for people to go with their friends and their families. To create that aspect of community,” said Blankenhorn.

With nearly five months left of their senior year, students still have time to continue bonding with their classmates from six-feet apart while enjoying various types of food from places like Chipotle, Knock Out Pizza, and more as they hold onto the knowledge that 25% of the proceeds they are contributing will 100% be going toward an everlasting legacy gift for Sage Creek and possibly an action-packed arrangement of senior events the last week of high school.