Ossining to Host June 19 Senior Parade, Post Grad Video June 20

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed how schools operate, and the Ossining High School graduation and other senior events this year are no exception.

OHS Principal Stephen Hancock, Fanny Zhang, Student Government Association president, and Victoria Lema, senior class president, recently announced that the district hired a professional video company to pre-record the graduation ceremony. The final video will air at 2 p.m. June 20 on the district’s YouTube channel, Ossining UFSD TV.

Each graduate will receive a time slot on either June 9 or 10 to drive onto the OHS campus with up to four family members in the car. Students and all family members must wear masks. They will remain in their vehicles – or on the bus lane sidewalk if they are on foot – until a staff member asks them to step out and enter a tent set up on a field. Graduates will walk the stage and have their photo taken.

The letter quoted the late poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once advised, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a new trail.”

“This quote is fitting given our current situation because we are planning for a type of graduation ceremony that has never been done before,” the principal and students wrote. “Your class is leaving a mark on Ossining High School!”

On June 19, the day before the graduation video will air, graduating seniors will participate in a parade around Ossining. OHS will announce the details closer to the event.

Absent the traditional milestones, the district has been celebrating graduates in other ways. The district has been posting seniors’ photos and details of their post-OHS plans on social media. Ossining has also been participating in “Friday Night Lights” by lighting the scoreboard at the OHS football field each Friday night to celebrate the Class of 2020. The Ossining PTSA is selling lawn signs and T-shirts to raise money to give a T-shirt or hoodie to all 337 seniors.

“We thank you for your input, patience, flexibility, and understanding,” the principal and student leaders wrote. “These are unprecedented times, but we hope to make this a memorable time for you that is unlike any other graduation event. We look forward to celebrating your success.”

The trio also announced decisions about two other milestone events: senior awards and the prom. More than half the member of the senior class responded to a survey requesting feedback.

For students who received scholarships, Mr. Hancock and Superintendent Raymond Sanchez will deliver them in person to each recipient’s home on Saturday, June 6.

Members of the Class of 2020 voted overwhelmingly to replace the traditional prom with a donation of a senior gift to OHS.