Editor’s note: The following letter was sent first to Durant Superintendent Joe Burnett and High School Principal Joel Diederichs.
Editor:
Having a senior child this year with the COVID-19 pandemic circulating throughout the states is not easy right now. Having a senior child in itself is very emotional and then add in a highly contagious virus that shuts downs a senior year, their final year of sports and a very abrupt end to everything they’ve ever known just adds to more emotion, more stress.
We would like to commend both of you for the manner in which you have handled this whole situation, all while respecting and honoring this senior class of 2020. You have kept us in the loop throughout this whole process and answered questions we’ve had but hadn’t quite had time to ask yet.
You’ve arranged meals, online classes and still managed to show sympathy to our seniors as if one of them were your very own. You’ve also postponed activities that you very well could have just canceled all together. We sincerely appreciate you honoring our students with a parade for our seniors. I know our son (Brendan Paper) personally is looking forward to participating in any activity that will give him just one more memory of this senior year.
Bettendorf students just had a parade and they recognized their principal during the parade for allowing this to happen. We want you both to know how grateful we are as well for you allowing this to happen. This is another lifelong memory for these kids. They will never forget it, nor will we. Thanks so much for doing this for our kids. All of your actions this year have not gone unnoticed, especially these last few weeks of their senior year. Keep doing what you’re doing and caring for our kids; we appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. God Bless!
Gary and Jenny Paper
Durant