AS-DOE announces venue change for high school graduations

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With the easing of local COVID-19 restrictions under the Governor’s current emergency declaration, the Education Department (ASDOE) has “restructured” its graduation plan for public high school seniors, with commencement ceremonies being held at the respective schools, said ASDOE deputy director Dr. Roxanne Salave’a.

ASDOE had initially announced last month that the Veterans Memorial Stadium would be the venue for all public high school senior graduations on Tutuila island with different dates next week, while Manu’a High School would hold their ceremony at the school campus on Ta’u island.

“But considering the [new] declaration easing some of these restrictions, [AS]DOE restructured a plan” where graduations will be held at the respective high schools, said Dr. Salave’a, during Tuesday’s COVID-19 Task Force virtual news conference, providing an update on graduations for public high school seniors.

Graduation schedule remains the same as previously announced, starting tomorrow, Friday, June 10 with Manu’a High School, followed by Samoana High, Monday, June 13;  Nu’uuli Vocational Technical High School, Tuesday, June 14; Leone High, Wednesday, June 15; Tafuna High, Thursday, June 16; and Fagaitua High, Friday, June 17.

Graduation ceremonies will be held at the respective high schools’ gymnasiums starting at 9a.m. — except for Manu’a, whose graduation starts at 10a.m, according to the ASDOE schedule.

Schools began virtual learning after the first community spread of COVID-19 was recorded Feb. 21 on Tutuila. As the number of positive cases remained steady following a surge in late March, in-person classroom instruction resumed May 2 — but with staggered days for Levels 5 up to Level 12. The Governor’s May 28 COVID declaration eased more local restrictions allowing for full in-person classroom instructions.

There have been questions from some members of the community as to whether the Health Department recorded any positives cases for students, teachers or schools officials since May 2, as there were many concerns from parents and teachers over the limited resumption of in-person classroom instructions.

And the issue was raised by the media during Tuesday’s news conference, asking if any positive cases for students and school officials had been reported since May 2, to which Dr. Salave’a responded that, a couple of teachers and students tested positive, but it was confirmed when contact-tracing was conduct that “it wasn’t from the school’s side” instead it was contact from the teacher/ student’s homes.

Dr. Salave’a explained that ASDOE “partnered up” with DoH, “helping us with the tracing” and reiterated that the infection did not occur on the school’s side, but was from the homes.