Published in the June 4, 2020 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Due to the closure of schools for the 2019-20 school year and the public health crisis caused by COVID-19, schools have been forced to rethink traditional graduation ceremonies. The goal is to honor our Seniors in a way that retains many of the in-person elements students feel are most important — hearing their name announced, walking across the stage to receive their diploma, and celebrating with their families. The graduation ceremony is an event that should provide closure for the Class of 2020 and be structured in a way that makes it equitable, accessible, and safe for all students and families to attend. Therefore, the multi-part plan for graduation follows:
Part 1: Pre-Ceremony
Caps and gowns will be distributed to students during Senior Week on June 3. All students will have caps, gowns and tassels which they will be allowed to keep this year. Please remember:
● Seniors may decorate the cap for the ceremony and may also choose to wear the cap and gown for the Senior Parade (on June 5).
● If you choose to wear your cap and gown to the parade, please be mindful that you will want it in good condition for the ceremony (see below). You may want to iron your gown before the ceremony.
In early June (week of June 8), WCAT will film the following in studio:
● MC/Speech Intros: Winnie Mylan
● Valedictorian speech: Basia Holowenczak
● Co-Salutatorian speeches: Mitra Patel and Emily Pudvah
● President/Welcome: Olivia Lucey
● Class Essayist: Ian Schermerhorn
● Passing of the key: Katie Pearl and Elizabeth Sheridan (Junior president)
● Superintendent’s speech: Doug Lyons
● School Committee Chair: Aimee Purcell
● Principal’s speech: Amy McLeod
Part 2: Ceremony
We will hold an in-person, outdoor graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 with small groups of Seniors on Landrigan Field. This ceremony will include:
● Students will arrive in cars (with family) in small group shifts (alphabetically by homeroom) to the Landrigan parking lot. Students will be emailed parking passes before the ceremony to print and place on dashboards. Spaces will be numbered (for students to park in assigned space).
● It is important that families time their arrival with the time slot/start time. There is no room in the lot for overlap so cars will only be allowed in once the previous shift ends.
● Each student will be allowed to bring immediate family members with whom they have been in direct contact throughout the “stay at home” order with them to the ceremony. The family should arrive together with the graduate and park in the assigned space.
● An outdoor stage will be set up on the cement track at Landrigan (near the bleachers). Students and families will be directed to get out of their cars, one family at a time, head up the ramp, and walk onto the Landrigan Field to stand in an assigned spot with their family on the field.
● All participants will be required to wear masks while outside of their cars on school grounds (except while crossing the stage and at the photo station when families can remove masks to take a photograph).
● Graduates will be provided with masks designed specifically for the Class of 2020 (purchased by an anonymous donor).
● Students will be welcomed to the ceremony by one of the four Senior Class Officers:
• Day 1 a.m. (June 13): Winnie Mylan
• Day 1 p.m. (June 13): Katie Pearl
• Day 2 a.m. (June 14): Retta Carroll
• Day 2 p.m. (June 14): Olivia Lucey
● After the welcome, each students’ names will be announced by the Senior Class Officer, the student will cross the stage and pick up their diploma from a table. The diploma will be placed on the table by the School Committee Chairperson or the Superintendent.
● The student’s family will meet the student at a photography station (located next to the stage on the field) and then return back to their original spot on the field.
● Students and families on the field will be encouraged to cheer and support the graduates all the way through the ceremony (instead of holding applause to the end).
● Each student will be filmed as they are walking the stage and getting diplomas. This portion of the event will be live-streamed by WCAT (and also recorded).
● After everyone in the group has received diplomas, families will be directed to leave the field (one family at a time) to return to their cars and exit the parking lot. Graduates and families cannot linger in the lots since we must clear the lot before the next group comes in.
● WCAT will put together a video of the entire ceremony – including pre-recorded speeches and all students walking the stage to receive diplomas – to be shared with students and the community.
● Rain date Monday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16 (if needed).
Schedule:
Day 1 (June 13)
8 – 9 a.m. Doren HR – Students: Alden – Brennan, M and Santos, A
9 – 10 a.m. Simmonds HR – Students: Brennan, N – Carino
10 – 11 Burke and Torelli HRs – Students: Carlson – Comeau and Bassile
11 a.m. – 12 noon Lacy HR – Students: Cook – Doto
12 – 1 p.m. – Break/catch up
1 – 2 p.m. Berecz HR – Students: Dube – Frata
2 – 3 p.m. Steere HR – Students: Gagliardi – Herson
3 – 4 p.m. Chrisos and Dettore HR – Students: Hickey – Judge and Hosford, Patel, Stack and White, J.
4 – 5 Macri HR – Students: Kelley – Lupien
Day 2 (June 14)
8 – 9 a.m. Lopez HR – Students: Lynch – McNamara
9 – 10 a.m. Bluth HR – Students: Meagher – Nolan
10 – 11 a.m. Guttadauro HR – Students: Nordeen – Pescatore
11 a.m. – 12 noon J. Cummings HR – Students: Petersen – Rizos
12 – 1 p.m. Break/catch up
1 – 2 p.m. Trahan HR – Students: Roberto – Schroder
2 – 3 p.m. Robinson HR – Students: Sellers – Strauss and DeAngelis
3 – 4 p.m. O’Brien and A Connolly HRs – Students: Summers – Trepsas and Swindell, M.
4 – 5 p.m. Moody HR – Students: Turner – Zupan
Part 3: Summer Celebration
● Senior celebration – August 3 – prom at Danversport with the Senior Night Committee scheduling several options (depending on what will be feasible with current guidelines) which may include an in-person celebration or drive-in movie option to view Graduation, Senior slideshow (Date TBD)
