By Katie Bisaro
Dr. David Leach, Superintendent of Schools of the Warwick Valley Central School District, has provided a glimmer of hope to the seniors of the Class of 2020 as he announced that preparations for graduation, slated to take place on Sat., June 27, are continuing as planned.
Dr. Leach’s announcement, in both a letter to the District and in a Facebook video, revealed that the District plans to hold commencement exercises on the scheduled day at 10 a.m., outside on the football field, with a rain date of Sun., June 28, at 1 p.m. The ceremony may look very different than years past based on social distancing requirements, but the goal is to hold a live graduation ceremony.
The Superintendent cautioned that these plans are dependent on federal, state and local community health and safety guidelines.
“Please remember, our plans are contingent on federal, state, and local mandates, which may be in place at the time of graduation. And while we can’t control the uncontrollable, we will move forward with the very best intentions,” Dr. Leach wrote.
Alternatively, if the original dates do not work out, the plan is to move the ceremony to Fri., July 31 at 10 a.m. (rain date, Sat., Aug. 1, 10 a.m.) allowing for an additional five weeks to “assess health and safety conditions with the hope of holding a ceremony on the football field under potentially relaxed regulations.”
Additional efforts are being made to make the final few weeks of the interrupted school year for the Class of 2020 as unique and special as possible since the students have “lost” so many memory-making events such as prom, awards ceremonies, etc.
While some plans are being kept under wraps as surprises, Leach did outline several activities that are in the works to honor the Class of 2020. These include a pre-recorded Awards Night on Wed., May 27; lawn signs for each senior; village store-front decorations for the two weeks leading up to graduation; and an online yearbook signing.
A “virtual celebration” is in production and will be shown at the Warwick Drive-in on Thurs., June 25, at 9 p.m. Every Friday night until graduation, at 8:20 p.m. (20:20 in military time), the lights at the football field are turned on to honor the senior class.
Information on all the events and celebrations for the Class of 2020 can be found on the district website at www.warwickvalleyschools.com, as well as its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Dr. Leach concluded his Facebook message with, “Let’s keep our chins up, we have so much to look forward to…Go Wildcats!”
Photo by Katie Bisaro
“Go Wildcats!” Dr. David Leach, Superintendent of Schools for the Warwick Valley Central School District outlined end-of-year plans in a Facebook video message to the Class of 2020 which includes proceeding with graduation as planned on Sat., June 27.
