Dear Parents,
First, I want to thank you all for the time and effort you are putting into working with your children. We know as well as anyone how tough that job can be, and we are thankful to have partners who are willing to work with us during this trying time. We have been getting questions here in the office about graduation, senior projects, prom, and locker clean out dates just to name a few. I would like to address these items one at a time.
We would love to have graduation as we normally do, but that is looking less and less likely. Accordingly, I have spoken with Mrs. Snyder, who runs our television studio, and she feels strongly that we can put together a video graduation film that will honor each graduate. In order to keep up social distancing guidelines, we intend to have seniors enter the building once more by appointment. Seniors will come in and pick up their locker contents, receive their cap & gown, put on their cap & gown, and film their senior message (15-20 seconds) in their cap and gown. Our graduation film will follow the usual graduation script complete with music, speeches, and processions but will also include clever ways to make it unique. This film will be an addition if somehow, the clouds clear and we are allowed to have a face-to-face graduation later during the summer.
As we get closer and closer to the end of school, parents of graduates have many questions. Please let me put one concern to rest. Due to the COVID-19 Virus and at the direction of the Pennsylvania Department of Education the community service hours and the senior final project requirements have been waived for the 2019-2020 school year only. Under the current circumstances, it is almost impossible for students to find community service opportunities, and the thought is that this lack of opportunity should not keep any student from graduating. The same is true with our graduation project. The culminating activity was an interview day that had to be cancelled due to health concerns. Accordingly, these items are waived as graduation requirements.
As for prom, we are directed by the State Dept. of Health guidelines. Mr. McCahan has scheduled a Zoom meeting with the senior class officers for this Thursday to discuss options. Our prom advisor, Mr. Flaherty, has been in touch with the Resort and they have given us alternative dates later in the summer. He has prepared a brief electronic survey that we are going to ask the senior class to complete so we get their input on these important events.
We are hoping to open up school for locker clean out beginning on Wed., May 13th for seniors. We will be announcing days for Sr. High, Middle School, and Elementary School as we get those lockers cleaned out and disinfected. When parents come to collect locker belongings, they will come to the office to collect a bag of their child’s locker contents. Parents who want others to pick up for them just need to provide a note. We will keep all left over items until fall. Any items not claimed after the first two weeks of school will be donated to Goodwill.
I hope that you are well and continue to stay safe. The good news is that the weather is getting warmer and there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. I wish you well and ask that you continue to care for each other.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Shoemake, Superintendent