For the past four years, I have had the joy and the privilege to be the Falcon Insider for the Salisbury Press.

Some weeks, the articles wrote themselves, while other times, especially when difficult topics have to be addressed, I spent hours staring at the computer screen. This article was both. Anyway, here it is, my final article as the Falcon Insider.

The Salisbury High School Class of 2020 will receive their diplomas June 9, 10 and 11. Students will ride with their families in one vehicle (unless it is a two household family) at their designated time. Students should check the schedule to see when they are to arrive at the high school. Everyone is required to wear a mask, except the student who may remove their mask for the diploma conferral and the professional photo. After the conferral, students and families will return to their cars and leave the high school. Students who do not feel comfortable receiving their diplomas in person can have them mailed to their houses.

The SHS Class of 2020 parade was 6:30 p.m. June 9. Students decorated their cars and drove from the middle school to the South Mall where they were able to celebrate their graduation with the community while distanced.

The Class of 2020 will have their graduation ceremony July 22. It will be determined July 1 whether or not this ceremony will be held in person or virtually.

As the school district plans for the 2020-2021 school year, parents and guardians are asked to fill out a survey indicating their opinions and preferences. Visit the school district website or social media to fill out this survey. It is asked that parents/guardians fill out the survey for each child that is enrolled in the Salisbury Township School District.

On June 3, the school board discussed and voted on the reconfiguration of grades within the district. Along with this decision, the removal of courses at Salisbury High School was also discussed.

Many high school students spoke at the meeting about how the school district’s decisions to cut funding to these programs not only impact their ability to succeed at the high school level, but how these decisions also affect the rest of their lives, as many cited their dreams of becoming musicians, engineers, medical personnel or simply wanting to explore their potential. As of now, there are proposed cuts to the music department and physics program at the high school level.

Finally, I would like to end by thanking some very important people.

I would first and foremost like to thank my editor, Debbie Galbraith. She has dealt with the weeks that I turned in articles late and provided me with numerous opportunities to expand my journalism skills.

Outside of my role as the Falcon Insider, I have taken many photos at local church, Scouting and school events. Without her willingness to work with me and provide me with these opportunities, I would have never become the writer that I am today. Thank you.

Next, I have to thank all of my classmates. They have worked with me behind the scenes, helping me identify a person in a photograph or answering a few of my questions for an article. They have spent years with me badgering them to just take a photo or provide some information and I couldn’t have done it without them.

Although we did not get the chance to say goodbye, I would like to say thank you to all of the teachers and staff members who have helped me and the rest of the SHS community grow both intellectually and as people.

As the Class of 2020 moves forward, we will miss spending time in your classes but hope to see you when we return to say hello.

And last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank those that have been reading my articles these past years. I can write as much as I want, but without readers, the words I have written are just ink on paper.

After leaving my role as the Falcon Insider and graduating from Salisbury High School, I plan to continue my education at Lafayette College. There I intend to major in English with a concentration in creative writing and write for their newspaper, The Lafayette.

Now all that is left to say is, “See you later, Salisbury!”

Editor’s Note: We thank Paige Mathieu for her commitment to keeping the Salisbury community informed on Salisbury High School happenings and wish her the best in her future endeavors.