Published May 27, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — School officials are still trying to plan a graduation ceremony for the Lynnfield High School Class of 2020.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey Riley informed superintendents on May 21 that “ceremonies held between now and July 18 should be held virtually or in extremely limited other circumstances” such as car parades where safety protocols are followed.
Riley said outside ceremonies could potentially be held starting on July 19 as long as high schools follow the state’s guidelines and “assuming the public health data supports the continued opening” of the state.
Superintendent Jane Tremblay said during the School Committee’s May 19 meeting that officials are still trying to finalize graduation plans. She noted Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan still prohibits 10 or more people from gathering in public.
“We are working incredibly hard to see what we will be able to do,” said Tremblay. “I am continuing to talk to superintendents on the North Shore and I am working with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. I want to thank everyone for their patience.”
Tremblay also noted that Riley told superintendents on a recent conference call they need to “do what is best” for your town.”
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman noted the Class of 2020 recently completed a survey, where seniors said they prefer celebrating graduation in front of family, friends and classmates at Pioneer Stadium. He said Tremblay, High School Principal Bob Cleary, Assistant Principal Brian Bates and teachers “are doing everything they can to respect the wishes of the graduating seniors and their families.”
“We appreciate that,” said Hayman.
Tremblay told the Villager that the Emergency Management Team is working with school officials to make sure there is “a safe graduation for everybody.”
“The well-being and safety of our students and their families is our number one priority,” said Tremblay.
Moving on ceremonies
While plans for Lynnfield High’s graduation ceremony remain in limbo, plans for the elementary and middle schools’ moving on ceremonies are coming together.
The two elementary schools will be hosting a drive-up ceremony for moving on. Huckleberry Hill School’s ceremony will take place on Friday, June 5.
“We understand that things may look a little different this year, but we promise you this will still be a special experience for your child,” said Huckleberry Hill School Principal Melissa Wyland in a letter sent to parents. “We plan to follow all safety precautions and social distancing guidelines set forth by the state and our own local Emergency Management Team.”
Wyland said she, fourth grade teachers and other educators from Huckleberry Hill will be lining up on the parking lot while standing 6-feet part in order “greet and cheer on the fourth-graders.”
“We will be dropping off students’ moving on shirts at their homes prior to June 5,” said Wyland. “Cars will enter the parking lot the same way they do for drop-off and pick-up.”
Wyland encouraged fourth-graders’ parents to decorate their cars and to make creative signs.
“We are asking that you make this as fun as you can for your student,” said Wyland.
Wyland said the ceremony will be similar to when students’ families recently came to Huckleberry Hill in order to pick up their personal belongings.
“The teachers will have a bag with their student gifts, yearbook and certificate waiting for them,” said Wyland. “Teachers will not be directly handing the students their bags. This will be contactless. We respectfully ask that you wait until the items are placed on the ground and you get a cue from a staff member before your child exits the vehicle to retrieve their items. At that time, the student will get out of the car alone to pick up their bag, with a round of applause, and pose for one quick photo taken by our volunteer. We ask that other family members please stay in the vehicle. If you are not comfortable with your child getting out of the car, please feel free to retrieve the items yourself.”
Wyland said the ceremony will have a “high-energy atmosphere.” She said, “Each child will receive their moving on video in the mail after the ceremony.”
“We are also working on a secure website with the students’ photos, videos, messages from staff, art projects and messages from friends and family,” said Wyland.
“We really have tried our best to make this a memorable moving on for the fourth-graders.”
Summer Street School’s moving on ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 10. Principal Dr. Karen Dwyer said the ceremony will have a similar format as Huckleberry Hill’s event.
“Our theme is Zooming On,” said Dwyer.
Principal Stephen Ralston said Lynnfield Middle School’s moving on ceremony will be virtual.
“We will be having a virtual moving on ceremony that will have the same components of our traditional ceremony,” Ralston stated in a letter sent to parents. “We will release this pre-recorded video on Tuesday, June 16, which would have been our established moving on date.”
Ralston said he, High School Principal Bob Cleary, Student Council President Steven Migliero, Student Council Vice President Jake Martinho and Student Council Secretary Ava Remon will be speaking during the virtual ceremony.
Moving on certificates, president awards for qualifying students and yearbooks will be mailed to students in mid-June. He said each eighth-grader will receive an LMS Class of 2020 T-shirt as well.
