Great Neck celebrates class of 2020 with car parades

Dan Offner

The Great Neck school district celebrated its graduating senior class with two car parades. Students from Great Neck South High School celebrated with a parade on June 1, and Great Neck North High School held its parade on Friday.

“This event was designed to celebrate the class of 2020’s commencement with the entire Great Neck North community and was a special moment for everyone involved,” said high school Principal Dan Holtzman. “Given that we were unable to conduct our commencement in the traditional format, this was one of several special events scheduled over the past few weeks to recognize and commemorate this milestone in our graduates’ lives.”

In an effort to celebrate students’ academic achievements as a community, organizers with the North High PTO worked with the Nassau County Police Department’s 6th Precinct to make sure all of the necessary precautions were taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Traditionally, the North High PTO throws a themed gala event at the school to celebrate the seniors and to give them a last opportunity to gather as a class the night before graduation,” said Joyce Cheung, one of the senior event committee co-chairs.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic, the parents had to scrap all their plans, we were unable to complete fundraising efforts, and had to come up with innovative ways to celebrate the class of 2020 that would be memorable yet abide by the ever-changing social distancing rules as New York enters the different phases of recovery.”

Senior event committee Co-chair Debbie Sedaghat said that it was hard for her and other parents to just sit by and watch the class of 2020 miss out on such significant and memorable moments like spring break and prom.

“We wanted them to have something good to look back on down the road when reminiscing on this chaotic time,” Sedaghat said. “We decided to ask all the schools to contribute and put up banners throughout the town and use a car parade to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

Adhering to the requirements outlined by the state Department of Health, only families of graduates were permitted to participate, and there were no interactions with others outside of their own vehicles.

Before the parade, volunteers presented graduating seniors with gifts, including car flags, customized hoodies and a “North High Strong” face mask. There was also a Zoom conference featuring a DJ who took song requests and shoutouts.

Cars were escorted by local police and fire departments in vehicles decorated with balloons, and covered in paint and posters.

“The happy faces. The energy and the school spirit was palpable. This energy carried itself throughout the parade when the kids saw their fully decorated school and congratulatory flags and banners along Middle Neck Road,” Cheung said.

“Many people were skeptical about having a parade at first but came out loving it. Quite a few parents shared that they had as much fun as their kids and that this should become our new tradition for years to come!”

Great Neck South High School hosted its “Future Plans” themed car parade on June 1, to honor students moving on to pursue collegiate aspirations. The event included several vehicles decked out in different university banners and flags.

Efforts to reach  Great Neck South High School Principal Chris Gitz were unavailing.

In addition to the car parades and cap and gown distribution ceremonies, Holtzman said that Great Neck North High School plans to adhere to the same Health Department guidelines for the drive-in premiere of its virtual graduation on Tuesday at 9 p.m. at Beach Park. Great Neck South High School will also premiere a virtual version of graduation for parents and graduates on Monday at 9 p.m. at Beach Park.

Students dressed in cap and gown for the parade.
North High School educators cheered on their students from an appropriate social distance.

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