Senior Events 5/1/20
As mentioned in an earlier message, I’ve been thinking extensively about how best to recognize and celebrate the Class of 2020. We met with the class officers this morning and the class advisors and presented an outline of our senior calendar. I was hoping to use the weekend to finalize details and to tighten-up ideas prior to sending the plan to our seniors, teachers, and families; however, given the number of inquiries I’m presently receiving, I want to provide you with the most accurate information to date. Please understand, this pandemic has interrupted every aspect of life in the recent past, present, and into an unknown future. If the Governor changes the stay at home order, and associated guidelines, after May 18th, we will revisit these plans.
So, I’ll provide a snapshot of some of the major events and activities here, send along a template on Sunday evening including all events, and follow-up in greater detail regarding each of these events as the relevant dates approach.
First of all, our graduation ceremony is postponed, and is now planned for Friday, July 31st at 7:00 PM. The rain date is Saturday, August 1st. We want to do everything possible to make this graduation as special as we can for this terrific class. We are trying our best to incorporate the traditions of graduation, and senior activities, out of a deep and profound respect for these students. I would like to provide you with more details regarding the event, but I do not know what social distancing and crowd-size guidelines will be as of July 31st. Being realistic, our priority for this event will be awarding diplomas, in the presence of family, at HHS. Whatever happens, we will find a creative way to deliver these hard-earned diplomas in person.
If guidelines permit on the day of July 31st, we’ll replicate the senior parade into the school. Seniors will be led down the high school driveway and into the school. They’ll make their way through the halls, into the auditorium, and out into the courtyard for a class cookout! More to follow!
On our original graduation date of June 5th, we intend to hold a televised student-recognition ceremony at 6:30 PM. in honor of this date and in tribute to the Class of 2020. We’ve asked a few students to speak, and we’ll perform a reading of student names – unassociated with caps-and-gowns, diplomas, and graduation. This student recognition ceremony is not replacing graduation. Rather, we are recognizing this important date and affording deserving students the honor of addressing their classmates and community in the event that our formal ceremony on July 31st is unable to run, or needs to be pared down. More to follow!
On Friday evening, May 29th, we’ll be organizing a town-wide car parade for our seniors!!! We’ve already been in communication with Town Officials, and details surrounding the event are currently in the works. We’ll have decorated senior cars, maybe a fire truck or two, and some police cruisers in the mix. More to follow!
There will be other public recognitions and celebrations for the seniors starting next week – including some surprises - that will culminate during senior week (5/26, 5/27, and 5/28) and conclude with the town-wide parade. Be assured that there are some really thoughtful tributes to this class that will begin to appear very soon. More to follow!
As we learn more about the future of the stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines, we will adapt our plans accordingly. We have received a great deal of thoughtful feedback with one common theme – let’s make this occasion special for these kids. As we learn more, we may need support and volunteers to assist with parade decorations, executing a creative ceremony for diplomas (if July 31st can’t run), and other activities presently unknown. We will do our very best to keep you informed and to make these weeks ahead as special as possible for the HHS Class of 2020.
That’s it for now. Be warm. Be safe.
Matthew Paquette
Principal