Graduates Will Have A Ceremony After All
Submitted by the New Lebanon Central School District
As we are learning throughout this COVID-19 crisis, guidance with regard to our day-to-day operations can change from moment to moment. We have learned via Governor Cuomo’s daily briefings that he is now allowing outdoor graduations, for groups of 150 people or less, beginning June 26. Social distancing rules and masks still apply. In order to allow for our graduates to be together in this manner, the new graduation date will be Saturday, June 27 with the parade to follow.
On June 27, a graduate recessional led by area emergency service vehicles will escort our senior class in their cars from Walter B. Howard Elementary School to the Junior/Senior High School to symbolize their educational journey in our district. Community members are invited to park their cars along Route 20/22 to cheer on our graduates. At the high school, the student “parade” will be met with teachers from both buildings (socially distanced) with signs celebrating their successes.
It is envisioned that the parade will begin around 11:15, but will be dependent on when the ceremony has ended. It will be important for those wishing to be involved to remain in their cars and to be practicing social distancing during this “parade.” Due to space limitations and state restrictions, the graduation itself will not be open to the community beyond the graduates and their family.
High School Principal Matthew Klafehn says “it is my hope that we will be able to prepare a joyous occasion that seeks to celebrate not what has been lost, but what has been gained with the support of our great New Lebanon community. Thank you for helping to make our celebration outstanding and representative of what a small town community can do for one another.”