WHS Plans Graduation Experiences For Class Of 2020
On May 1, a letter from the office of Dr. April Hershey, superintendent of Warwick School District, was sent to Warwick families. The letter discussed the completion of the school year, touching on everything from Staff Appreciation Week to the daunting task of cleaning out lockers. Hershey's letter also addressed the important issue of graduating the Warwick High School (WHS) Class of 2020. "We have spent ... hours ... planning ... to create a meaningful experience for our amazing seniors and their families," explained Hershey in the letter. She also noted that doing so while protecting the health and safety of everyone in the community within COVID-19 guidelines was foremost in the minds of planners.
Hershey's letter also outlined the goals for graduation, which include giving each student and immediate family members a chance to experience the joy of the occasion in a personal way. Organizers also endeavored to allow every student and family to see classmates enjoy the experience. Ultimately, the school district sought to achieve both those goals while "ensuring the health and safety of every student, family member, staff member, and board member by complying with regulations for social distancing in a small group setting," according to the communication.
Hershey explained that the details of the plans are based on student suggestions, with additional input from the Class of 2020 officers. "As we planned for graduation, we researched what other schools were planning and listened to suggestions from families, worked closely with our seniors, and, working together as a team, we found a way to achieve the three priorities we set to honor our seniors," said Hershey. "One of our main goals was to have that face-to-face time with the seniors, whom we love so dearly. These are the priorities that we set forth when planning for graduation, and this has been what has guided our planning."
Further, the letter detailed the focus of the commencement exercises. "We ask that you join us in making this graduation one that is focused on the accomplishments of our students," Hershey wrote. Currently, plans call for each of the 330 seniors to have the opportunity to hear his or her name called and cross the stage to receive a diploma in front of family members. The experience will be videotaped and spliced together with other graduation exercise events such as speeches. The video will be broadcast at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, on Blue Ridge Cable 11.
The letter lauded members of the community who have rallied around the WHS senior students. Hershey referenced yard signs, pop-up scholarship opportunities, and an adopt-a-senior program. "What an amazing example of the love of our Warwick comm-UNITY," she wrote.
The goal of the commencement festivities is to give the students of the Class of 2020 a fitting sendoff. "During these unprecedented times, we continue to focus on our students to ensure they have what they need," said Hershey. "For our seniors, we have worked hard to create a plan to honor them in the best possible way while keeping everyone safe."
Student speakers who were selected to take part in the virtual graduation are Akash Banerjee, whose speech is titled "Walk the Stage"; Rylee Diffenderfer, who will speak on "Warwick's Class of 2020 - The Embodiment of Strength, Resilience, and Compassion"; Mahayla Meyer, whose speech is titled "A Musical of Our Own"; Stella Newman, who will speak on "Things We Never Found the Time to Say"; Lucy Shettel, who called her speech "A Vision of Courage"; and Ava Vulopas, who will speak on "The Letter C."
More information about the district may be found at http://www.warwicksd.org.
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