Published July 23, 2020
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The official North Reading High School Commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 will finally be held on Friday, July 24 at the Arthur J. Kenney Field at NRHS at 6 p.m. All participants should arrive by 5:30 p.m.
Since it must be held outdoors under the state COVID-19 protocols, a rain date is set for Saturday morning, July 25 at 10 a.m., with participants arriving at 9:30 a.m.
The school’s 63rd commencement will feature honor essays delivered by the top three students in the graduating class – Mary Regan, Samantha Galvin and Hae-Jung Kim – and the class essay to be given by Elizabeth Barrett whose essay was selected by a panel of faculty members.
This event is open to immediate family members only, not the general public. Each family has been assigned a 9-foot by 9-foot space on the football field, which will be divided into a grid of 200 squares facing the bleachers and will stretch from 20-yard-line to 20-yard line while measuring 30 yards deep.
The podium and seating for school administrators and speakers will be located on the track straight away in front of the bleachers.
Graduates will enter the field to a recording of the traditional processional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” followed by a recording of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Welcome and opening remarks will be delivered by Principal Anthony Loprete followed by the traditional address to the graduates by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Daly.
The three honor essayists will then deliver their speeches, followed by the class essayist. The announcement of the graduates will be made by the principal and a congratulatory message will be offered by Scott Buckley of the North Reading School Committee. The senior class officers will announce the class gift and the ceremony will conclude with a recording of “Fanfare and Recessional.”
Families must sign up to attend and no exceptions will be made. Refer any questions to Principal Anthony Loprete (978-664-7800). They should use their school-issued gmail account to do so. The notification all parents should have received includes all of the social distancing requirements, a synopsis of the guidelines issued by the Commissioner of Education, the field layout and the program.
