Andover High To Hold Virtual Graduation, Senior Week Events

Press release from Andover Public Schools:

ANDOVER, MA — Andover High School Principal Philip Conrad and senior class advisors announced updates to year-end events for the graduating class of 2020 today.

“This public health crisis has created a situation which causes us to rethink how we can honor our seniors and their accomplishments,” said Philip Conrad, principal at Andover High School. “We will focus on the ways in which we can come together, support one another, and honor what it means to be the Class of 2020. Our goal is to be flexible, while honoring our responsibility to keep everyone safe and healthy.”

AHS administrators, senior advisors and students have worked collaboratively since the initial school closing in March to discuss ideas. The Governor’s announcements last month extending the mandated closure and the stay-at-home order reinforce the need to develop alternative ways to traditional year-end celebrations.

“I recognize this news is devastating to many of our seniors and their families; graduation and year-end celebrations are major milestones in life,” adds Conrad. “These events mark new beginnings for our students and reinforce a well deserved sense of accomplishment. We are all very deeply disappointed, but are embracing the idea that these celebrations can still be awesome, inclusive and as unique as the Class of 2020.”

All AHS faculty and staff take great pride in recognizing the achievements of our seniors and are deeply disappointed that this year celebrations will look a little different. AHS would like to provide the following updates to year-end events:

Senior Week:

• In-person events scheduled for the week of May 25 (“Senior Week”) are canceled. The senior board and the administration are planning a virtual Senior Week for the week of May 25. These events will allow students to connect virtually with one another as a senior class and celebrate their accomplishments and victories together.

Graduation:

• While it has always been the goal to hold a physical graduation, it is likely that we will have a virtual graduation for the class of 2020. Due to the ever-changing developments in this crisis, AHS administrators are also preparing for a virtual ceremony that will uphold and maintain many of the cherished community traditions Andover students expect at their graduation.
• There is on-going planning for students and their families to take photos in their caps and gown, as well as receive their yearbooks and other class mementos on campus in the near future. This on-campus photo event will involve a high degree of planning and collaboration with the Andover Health Division and Police Department in order to stagger students and families in a way that ensures appropriate social distancing measures and safety for staff involved. Details and coordination of this event are complex and in development.

AHS seniors and their families are welcome to provide suggestions on virtual class events and the elements of a graduation ceremony seniors would most like to preserve. A survey was sent to the Class of 2020 on Friday afternoon.

This press release was produced by Andover Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.