A Virtual Academy graduation

Los Angeles Times

a day ago

This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Traditionally, when high school students graduate and complete their educational journey, they are surrounded by people they see in class every day. However, that is not the case for students attending any one of the six Los Angeles Unified School District Virtual Academy high schools.
Launched in 2022, the Los Angeles Unified School District Virtual Academy programs have served as an important alternative for many students, including those who have struggled with bullying, transportation issues or health challenges. Each academy has a specific area of focus: Arts and Entertainment, Business and Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, STEAM, International Studies and World Languages, and Leadership and Public Service. The six academies are home to over 4,700 students combined.
At Woodrow Wilson Senior High School on Friday, June 6, the six academies held a joint graduation ceremony to recognize the end of each student's K-12 educational journey. The principals of the six academies were present, as well as administrators, counselors and teachers.
'This is closure for me … This brings closure to why I show up every day,' math teacher Saul Franco said.
In the bleachers behind the field, parents waited to hear their child's name called.
For many, the graduation ceremony was the first time that they had seen each other outside of Zoom, the platform used for daily class instruction. For some, this was the first time they had seen each other at all, as cameras are not required in the virtual program.
'I honestly didn't know a lot of these people with just their face alone, but it was nice knowing that a lot of these people and I shared similar experiences. It helped build connections I hope to carry into the future,' senior Lulu Varela said.
'This was the first time I had seen many of my own students in person. With many, I only knew their voices over Zoom, but now, I was able to put a face to the voice for the first time at graduation,' Franco said.
Although the six salutatorians — one for each academy — did not give speeches, the six valedictorians delivered remarks at the ceremony. Among the valedictorians was Leadership and Public Service Virtual Academy valedictorian Karolina Gamage, who worked on her culmination speech while also attending recent LAUSD School Board meetings to speak against a policy requiring Virtual Academy teachers to teach fully remotely while reporting to physical campuses.
Gamage's speech focused on the 'unique achievement' of graduating from a virtual high school.
'Not only did we earn our diplomas, but we did it while resisting the siren call of Netflix, endless group chats and a mysterious urge to deep clean our rooms during class,' she said. 'We mastered the art of typing while eating breakfast. We passed math wrapped in hoodies and blanket burritos. And somehow, through senioritis and screen fatigue, we made it. We did that.'
After thanking important figures in her high school educational journey — social studies teacher Lisa McCarrell, math teacher Saul Franco, family and friends, among others — Gamage ended with a reflection.
'I've grown, I've endured and I've learned to believe in myself. And that is the real victory,' she said.
Six virtual academy ceremonies later, the students of the class of 2025 had walked the stage, celebrated, and most importantly, officially graduated. Related