On the afternoon of June 2, ELANCO School District superintendent Dr. Bob Hollister was on the sidewalk in front of Garden Spot High School (GSHS), 669 E. Main St., New Holland, contemplating a math problem. "If we go every four feet times 225 placards, that's 900 feet," concluded Hollister. "That should be enough (space)."
Hollinger's math problem was the result of a partnership between the school district and CrossNet Ministries that placed one yard sign for each of the school's seniors in front of the school on that afternoon. Each placard bore a photo of the student, the student's name, and the words "Class of 2020" and "Garden Spot High School." Drivers heading west on Route 23 who passed the front of the school following that date were treated to the smiling faces of the school's latest graduating class during the first week of June.
"We are surprising students with a yard sign for every senior in the lawn up at Garden Spot," said Meredith Dahl, executive director of CrossNet, prior to meeting with a number of CrossNet staff members, school district administrators, and volunteers at the school at 1 p.m. on June 2. The group assembled the placards and placed them in the grass just beyond the sidewalk in front of the high school and Garden Spot Middle School. Dahl noted that the signs were paid for by donors. Lisa Kerstetter, CrossNet director of marketing and events, created and organized the files to complete the large sign order.
Dahl said the idea stemmed from a conversation she had with Hollister in April when it became apparent that COVID-19 restrictions would make normal graduation procedures and prom impossible.
"I called Dr. Hollister to ask what we could do to help, and we brainstormed," recalled Dahl, who said she knew that the yard signs honoring students would be available for purchase, but that some students would not be able to afford them or have a good spot to place them. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could put them up?'"
Dahl said that the idea was to bless the GSHS Class of 2020 seniors and celebrate them. "The school has done an amazing job of coming up with ways to celebrate, so this is one more," she said. "This community is awesome and they made that happen."
Hollister noted that a designated pickup day was scheduled for students to take their signs and that Dr. Matt Sanger, secondary campus principal for grades seven to 12, would make sure that signs were delivered to students who could not pick them up.
More information about CrossNet Ministries may be found at https://elancocross.org. Readers who want to know more about ELANCO School District may visit http://www.elanco.org.
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