Over 1,100 people have signed a Change.org petition asking for an in-person graduation ceremony for Schreiber High School’s class of 2020, with a few changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a petition addressed to the Port Washington school board, Schreiber Principal Ira Pernick and district Superintendent Michael Hynes, Port Washington resident Ben Johnson asked the administrators to reconsider plans to cancel the school’s June 25 graduation ceremony.
Johnson suggested numerous precautions be taken to keep things safe, including having students sit with their families while socially distancing on Seeber or Whitney Field.
“Both of these fields can hold students with between 6 to 10 feet placed in between them,” Johnson wrote. “Students could safely queue on campus drive or unused athletics fields prior to the ceremony.”
Students would also wear facial coverings during the commencement and, rather than walk across a stage, stand from their chairs when their name is called, Johnson wrote.
Further, to ensure a contactless ceremony, diplomas could be mailed home or obtained at a later date, with pickups and drop offs choreographed alphabetically to ensure proper distancing.
The ceremony could be open to only students and family members who have been quarantining with them, Johnson added, and suggested that a live-stream be set up to watch the ceremony from home for those who cannot come.
Failing such a ceremony, Johnson suggests “as a very last resort” that a ceremony could be held in person in late July or early August prior to students leaving for college.
Port locals, current Schreiber students and parents of 2020 seniors wrote of their support for the petition in the comment section.
“This rite of passage is so important to these kids,” wrote Maureen Clark. “Let’s not disappoint them!”
Tracy Lefkowitz praised the petition in her comment.
“So many of these reasons stated above can make an actual graduation ceremony possible,” Lefkowitz wrote. “It’s important to validate these kids for all their hard work before they part for their own individual journey.”
Hope Duartr, a class of 2020 parent, agreed.
“This ceremony is such a significant way to celebrate the end of adolescence and the beginning of their adulthood,” Duartr wrote. “A graduation ceremony now is a way to teach them that even in uncertain times we can find innovative ways to celebrate together.”
Susie Orenstein wrote that the petition exhibited “a lesson for the kids.”
“[Either] come up against adversity and just throw up your hands and say, ‘can’t be done,'” Orenstein wrote. “Or, think outside the box and rise to the challenge. Come on Port, rise up and show these kids we can safely celebrate with an in person ceremony.”
Signer Clara Lacorte expressed enthusiasm for a proper graduation, but cautioned against moving too quickly.
“The Class of 2020 deserves to be remembered for their high school achievements rather than a global pandemic,” Lacorte wrote. “As we know, this virus can change rapidly within a span of 4 to 6 weeks and we simply don’t know what the conditions will be at the end of June. We should be hopeful and plan for the best case scenario and have a plan that will benefit everyone.”
