July 5, 2023
LETTER TO GRADUATE FAMILIES
Dear Graduate Families:
As you know, unfortunately our quest to return to campus this spring and to have the traditional end of year celebrations was dealt a significant blow by our governor when he ordered schools closed with shelter in place as we see has become customary globally.
Seniors, their families and others who care deeply about them are experiencing a level of disappointment that we wish was not the case. Because we cannot gather on campus, we made the decision to celebrate and recognize the whole class of 2020 for all of the quality work they have accomplished this year via a virtual commencement ceremony.
As I mentioned to you before, our efforts are geared towards creating a meaningful online graduation celebration on June 7 whereby all seniors can participate. Not everyone has the ability to record a video of his or her speech for a variety of reasons. This is why we decided to have a consistent ceremony allowing the students to give their speeches in an audio format, accommodating with closed captioning and speeches being available on the screen to follow along with as they are being delivered. The administrative team and I decided that in order to be fair to all the graduates from both programs, the only equitable solution was a pre-recorded, consistently delivered commencement and that is the best way to honor all the seniors.
Some of our graduates we have known for only a few months, others for 6 years. What can’t be taken away through this unfortunate set of circumstances is the impact they all have made on this school and the joy they have brought all of us. I ask you, as painful as it may be, in the days and weeks to come; to lean into the question of what good can come out of this and not to allow negativity or disappointment to disrupt one of the most important days of their lives.
The priority of a meaningful celebration for seniors has not changed. We will be hosting a virtual reception room via Zoom for everyone to pass along their well wishes to the graduates in lieu of a reception line and a commemorative program has been designed as a keepsake for this historic commencement. While it won’t be the same type of memorable day, it will be delivered with the utmost respect to the Class of 2020.
Kindest regards,
Jenn Scully