T.J. Kirila and Marlaina Marek

T.J. Kirila and Marlaina Marek

The Class of 2020 will be remembered for what it lost: prom; awards banquets; senior trips; and, in some cases, graduation ceremonies. But, Brookfield’s Class of 2020 hopes it will be remembered for starting the tradition of the Spirit Rock.
The boulder, donated by the family of senior student council member Marlaina Marek, was placed May 7 on the front lawn outside the high school entrance with equipment donated by the family of Senior Class President and Student Council President T.J. Kirila.
Marlaina painted the rock with gold as a base, a blue heart outlined in white and “Class of 2020” in white and gold.
The students said they will invite their fellow class members to sign the rock with a permanent marker after they receive their diplomas at the May 12 graduation ceremony.
The ceremony, planned to last about three hours, will allow small groups of family members to accompany graduates in the school auditorium for a diploma presentation, said school Supt. Toby Gibson. One family group will be allowed in the auditorium at a time.
The rock idea originated in a student council meeting from over the winter, Marlaina said. Her dad, Michael, works in construction for Kirila Fire of Hartford, and has several large rocks around the house.
“Our whole house is rock-themed,” Marlaina said. “We have a bunch. We had plans to get it here a while ago, and then school closed. I emailed the teachers saying, ‘Hey, I still want to do this. I want this before graduation.’ Now, it’s here.”
“I really have to give the kids credit,” said high school government teacher Mary Arp. “We got the permission, and they found the rock; they got it organized. It was really them.”
Organizers noted Youngstown State University and many high schools have decorated rocks.
promo“Pretty much, now, it’s like a 2020 rock because of everything that’s happening and how crazy the year’s been,” T.J. said. “I think it’s a good way to remember our class.”
Arp said she would like to see future senior classes improve the area around the rock, like with a Victory Bell to ring after sporting events, and planting a garden.
“That’s the nice thing of putting a rock in – this could be the center of something bigger,” Marlaina said.
The rock came from the West Hill.
“It really and truly is a Brookfield rock,” Arp said.