After a year of online learning, changing schedules, canceled plans and school closures, local high school seniors will graduate this week.

The first of the five local high schools to hold their ceremony is Clark Fork, with commencement set at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the school’s football field.

Reba Decker, one of the school’s soon-to-be graduates, said she’s proud of her accomplishments, having overcome so many challenges in the past year.

“My class and school were able to deal with every challenge that came our way and we all finished strong. Congrats class of 2021,” she said.

Another student, Dante Kemink, completed an entire year of college, over 30 credits, before graduating high school, he said.

“I made it out!” said Eli Engelhart.

Lily McKinney said she is proud of getting the help where she needed, and being able to graduate with her friends without falling behind.

“I'm proud to have been admitted to college without mastering the analogue clock,” said senior Wes Simko.

On Thursday, Lake Pend Oreille High School will celebrate its 26 graduates at 6 p.m. at the auditorium of the Sandpoint Events Center, 102 S. Euclid Ave.

Several of the students were supposed to graduate last year, but didn’t because of complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

One student in particular came back, sticking it through the whole year even as other students from his class “drifted away,” said Principal Geoff Penrose.

“[Students] persevere through the pandemic and shortened days,” he said. “We have a saying here, the hassle is worth the tassel. Well, they had a lot of hassle this year.”

On Friday, Sandpoint High School will hold its graduation ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at War Memorial Field.

Jeralyn Mire, a postsecondary transition counselor at SHS, said the class of roughly 200 is full of talented scholars, young professionals, musicians, artists, athletes and more.

“I’ve worked with students who had really difficult, life-altering things happen in their life,” she said. “They just haven’t given up, and that gives me hope.”

The graduates’ success can also be attributed to the school-wide community helping support them, Mire said.

“It takes a village,” she said. “Students have lots of different people they connect with … Everybody helps.”

On Saturday, Priest River Lamanna High School and Forrest Bird Charter School will both hold graduation ceremonies.

Priest River’s commencement will begin at 10 a.m. in the school gym. Roughly 44 students will be graduating, said Principal Paul Lamb.

Some are going to college, while others are joining the military or planning other careers.

“They’re looking forward to starting their adult life,” Lamb said. “I’m excited to see them sprout their wings and fly.”

Finally, the Forrest Bird Charter School will be holding a closed ceremony for graduates, family and friends with tickets at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Panida Theater.

Principal Mary Jensen said the class has been “amazingly resilient” in an especially challenging year. She said she admires their close personal friendships the entire class seemed to form.

“They're all friends and they get along. They respect each other, even if they have different viewpoints,” she said. “That's beautiful.”

The school has 31 graduates, several of whom earned associate degrees from North Idaho College through dual enrollment and another of which earned a plumbing certificate while still in high school.

Some students will be going to college, while others are pursuing trade schools or taking a gap year. One student earned a scholarship to a culinary school in California.

Despite only getting some of the normal experiences most students would, the students pulled through with positivity and optimism, she said.

“They just had prom, which was amazing because it was the only real activity that they had this year. But they're all leaving with a great sense of humor and positivity that is beyond belief.”