Maynard High School

Good evening everyone, I hope this message finds you well. It will be a lengthy note but it contains essential information regarding several senior events including graduation. Please take the time to read it completely. Our seniors will be having their last day of school this Friday and thoughts are on Graduation and celebrating the fantastic Class of 2020. Over the past several weeks, I have heard from numerous people about what they desire in the way of celebrations and methods of graduation during the time of the COVID 19 pandemic that now impacts us so greatly. I must say that some of these suggestions are in direct opposition to one another, so it is inevitable that not everyone’s wishes will be fulfilled completely. What I can relay is that a group of student leaders and staff members have worked diligently to gather input, have kept up to date on the evolving state guidance that governs us, and worked to put together a series of events that celebrates and honors the Class of 2020 appropriately. We are able to release this information in light of state guidance that was released at long last just this past Thursday afternoon. This guidance governs building accessibility and graduation ceremonies and makes considerable distinctions between what is permissible before July 18th and what is permissible after July 18th. What follows is a list of celebratory events that involves the Class of 2020. There is initial guidance as to how each event will be handled as well. The guidance included must be meticulously followed without exception to meet state guidelines. Additional information will be released in the coming days as well. Events Timeline and Initial Requirements June 4th is Drop Off-Pick Up Day. Seniors drop off all items owed to the school and pick up personal items left in lockers and essential items for graduation as well as their school records. Pleasant surprises are included. Requirements: Event begins at 10:00am. Event ends at 2:00pm. Seniors must enter through the auditorium doors only. All seniors must wear a face mask at all times. Strict social distancing of at least 6 feet will be enforced. No gatherings will be permitted. No person to person touching of any kind will be allowed. No food or beverages of any kind may enter the building. Bathrooms will not be available and will be closed and locked. Seniors must drop off everything they owe the school including textbooks, library books, all electronic gear like chromebooks and chargers, return any sports or band items, and pay any fees owed. A list has gone out to every senior who owes items. Separate tables will be set up for each type of item. After turning in items, seniors who still have items in lockers may get them. Again, strict social distancing will be enforced. After retrieving personal items, seniors will head to the cafeteria to receive their cap and gown, yearbook, school academic and medical records, as well as some surprise gifts. All seniors will then exit through an open cafeteria door that is designated as the sole exit from the building. June 5th is a Celebratory Parade for the Class of 2020! June 5, 2020 has been declared Maynard High School Class of 2020 Day by the Maynard Board of Selectmen. This was the original graduation date for the Class of 2020. To help celebrate this day, a parade will be held. The parade will begin at Maynard High School and then process through the town. Senior parades are now expressly permissible under the state guidance issued last Thursday so long as certain limits are followed. Requirements: Each Senior will be allowed one car for the parade. People living in the senior’s home such as family members may accompany each senior in that one car if desired. Students are invited to decorate their cars to add to the fun. Cars will line up from the circular drive at Maynard High School back toward the Fowler and Green Meadow schools starting at 1:45. No exiting of cars is permissible. No socializing or gathering outside of cars is permissible. The school buildings will be locked and no bathrooms will be available. The parade will commence promptly at 2:05pm, the traditional end of the school day, and will be led by the Maynard Police. June 11th is our Virtual Senior Awards Night! Each year, a few days before graduation, we celebrate the many achievements of our matriculating seniors with the awarding of certificates, plaques, trophies and scholarships. This year, we will do so virtually through a video presentation being prepared by staff members on behalf of our graduates. The video will become available at 6:00pm and a link will be sent out prior to that date. It would be great if all of our seniors and their families tuned in at the same time to celebrate the successes of the Class of 2020. Please join us! June 13th is the Awarding of Diplomas! Prior to July 19th the state allows diplomas to be awarded either through a virtual ceremony or through a rolling, “Drive Up” ceremony. We have opted to award diplomas using the drive up method. Requirements: Starting at 9:00am groups of 30 graduates will arrive in cars on June 13th with as many guests as can fit in the car. The precise groupings will be emailed out in the coming days. These groups will line up and then one by one vehicles will pull up to the main entrance area of Maynard High School in the circular driveway. Mr. Caragianes will lay out a diploma on a table and back away to at least 6 feet away. The graduate, in cap and gown, and two guests from the vehicle will step out and collect the diploma. A professional photographer will capture the moment for later free distribution to families. WAVM will have a digital video camera capturing the event for use as part of a later graduation video. Mr. Caragianes and any other staff assisting with diplomas will be masked and maintain strict social distancing. They will sanitize between each vehicle. Graduates and their two chosen guests may unmask briefly for the photo and then immediately get back into their car and make way for the next graduate. Please note, this is the absolute limit of what is permissible under the current and latest state guidelines as reviewed by our school nurses and after further consultation with the state Department of Public Health. July 24th is an “In Person” Graduation Celebration at Alumni Field! After July 18th the state is permitting an in person graduation celebration under extremely constrained conditions which will be listed below. It is an opportunity for the class of 2020 to gather to the extent possible under the regulations. Our ceremony is scheduled for 6:30pm to avoid the sun and heat possible in late July. The Rain date will be July 26th at 6:30pm. Tickets will be required of guests to enter Alumni Field for the Ceremony. If the state notes increase in COVID 19 cases statewide or locally as those dates approach, they have informed schools they reserve the right to rescind permission for graduation ceremonies at any time. Conditions and requirements: All ceremonies held after July 18th must be held in an unconfined outdoor space capable of accommodating full social distancing of all. Tents and enclosed spaces are not permitted. No school personnel, graduates, family member or other individuals may attend graduation if they are feeling sick, or are exhibiting any of the following symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell or have potentially been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID 19. A potential exposure means having household contact or having close contact, within 6 feet, with an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID 19 for a prolonged period of time (over 15 minutes) while the person is symptomatic or 48 hours before symptoms have developed. People over 65 years of age or older, people under 5 years of age, or people with underlying health conditions are urged not to attend the ceremony. Attendance is limited to graduates and 2 immediate family members. Family members may sit together separated by at least 6 feet from other guests. Graduates must be seated at least 6 feet apart from one another. Social distancing must be maintained entering and exiting the venue. Graduates must be separated by 6 feet in any entrance line. Staff and/or signage will provide additional guidance to maintain social distancing entering, being seated, and leaving the field. ALL ATTENDEES MUST WEAR FACE COVERINGS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE CEREMONY. The only exceptions will be for persons with a documented medical condition that prevents wearing a mask, children between 2 and 5 at the discretion of a parent, and speakers during the actual delivery of their remarks. ANY PERSON WHO REFUSES TO WEAR A FACE COVERING OR MASK WITHOUT VALID JUSTIFICATION WILL BE DENIED ENTRY. The venue will be cleaned and sanitized. Alcohol based hand sanitizer will be available at entrances and exits. At the graduation platform or dais all distinguished faculty or guests must be separated by at least 6 feet. NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED. No communal gathering or reception is permitted either before or after graduation. Graduates may approach a table to collect a certificate or award and turn their tassel. Diplomas or awards may be laid upon a table for graduates to pick up. They may not be handed to graduates. No hugging or handshaking is permitted. CEREMONIES SHOULD BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. Individuals must promptly depart the area in an orderly fashion after the ceremony is over following the direction of school or designated officials. All the conditions listed above come directly from the desk of Jeffrey Riley the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and must be followed. Please do not place us in the position of denying you entry if you cannot follow these conditions. Please note, in the event the state cancels all ceremonies due to increasing COVID 19 cases statewide or locally a Virtual Graduation Video will be shared. In the event weather conditions cause cancellation of both the primary and rain dates a Virtual Graduation Video will be shared and no further attempts at an in person ceremony will be made. The Virtual Graduation Video will be shared even if the ceremony is held as a lasting remembrance of the day. In closing, great efforts have been undertaken to bring about the series of events listed above while maintaining compliance with state guidelines. Many people wanted to hold a celebratory parade. We will accomplish that on June 5th now that such parades are once again permitted. Students and families wanted the ability to have a photograph available of graduates, in caps and gowns, receiving their diploma. We will accomplish that on June 13th. Students and parents wanted an in-person ceremony and we will attempt to accomplish that on July 24th weather and public health permitting. What we could not do is meet all of these desires on a single day, by conventional means, or precisely as we would have desired. All of our plans will be backed up by a video presentation in case we cannot hold a ceremony due to events beyond our control. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Best wishes and best regards to you all, Chuck Caragianes Maynard High School Principal of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

almost 5 years ago, Chuck Caragianes

Good afternoon everyone, The Maynard High School class of 2020 is composed of an outstanding group of young women and young men who have been fantastic contributors to the community that makes up Maynard High School. They have been first rate ambassadors for the Town of Maynard in a multitude of endeavors from academics, to the arts, to sports, through work in school based activities and clubs, and through community service. This year the COVID 19 pandemic has forced high schools around the state to cancel and dramatically alter many signature events normally associated with a student’s senior year and this has been true in Maynard as well. Two events that will be occurring, though in a form far different than under past circumstances, are our Senior Awards Ceremony and Graduation. This year the Maynard High School Senior Awards Ceremony will be held virtually on Thursday, June 11th. Final details regarding the video presentation and the precise time the video will become available for viewing will be released in the coming week. As you may have heard, graduation planning in Maynard was quite advanced and was being planned for June 13th as a “Drive In” style event to maintain social distancing and meet state requirements that appeared to be in force. These plans were based on our best estimate of what would be permissible as specific state guidelines governing graduations were not yet available. Yesterday afternoon, Thursday May 21st, the state released a set of highly specific and quite prescriptive guidelines that will govern graduation ceremonies under three acceptable scenarios. This morning the Superintendent, two of our district Nurses who have been in communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for clarifications and interpretation of the new guidelines, our Senior Class Advisor Rita Murphy and myself met to determine what would or would not be possible under these three scenarios. Early next week I will be meeting further with our graduation team made up of staff members and senior student leaders to review our options. Saturday morning June 13th remains a possibility for graduation, but this is not definite at this time and is under review. We anticipate making a final decision on a graduation date, time and method of ceremony by Wednesday evening, May 27th and we will release further details at that time. Your patience and understanding as we work through this challenging situation is greatly appreciated. Chuck Caragianes Maynard High School Principal for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

almost 5 years ago, Chuck Caragianes

Check out the link below to see a summary of the winter sports awards plus the link to the recorded virtual ceremony. Thanks to Mrs. Lucas, Mr. Steiner, and Mr. Cabral for coordinating the virtual ceremony. https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/article/247928?org=maynard-high-school

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

COVID can’t stop Murphy the Tiger from delivering the Winter sports awards!

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

Thanks to the MHS yard team, our seniors received yard signs yesterday celebrating their great accomplishments at MHS.

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

National High School Graduation Celebration Saturday Evening May 16th This Saturday night May 16th at 8:00pm several major networks will be covering a national graduation celebration for high school seniors with former President Barack Obama as the keynote speaker. Details can be found in the Associated Press story available at this site: http://epaper.bostonglobe.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=353aa176-2f2f-4de9-8052-9fad991e5376

almost 5 years ago, Chuck Caragianes

Congratulations Class of 2020! Stop by Alumni Field and take your picture with your banner. Make sure you are socially distant! A big shout out to CSA Graphics in Westford for making the banner and Kyle B for hanging it.

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

Check out the new MHS Grading policies for term four. http://hs.maynard.k12.ma.us/article/239346?org=maynard-high-school

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

The teachers at MHS are working hard creating accessible learning plans for all students and they are missing their students. See the proof! https://youtu.be/jZpizphLMEM

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

HS Term 3 Honor Roll Link! https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/o/maynard-high-school/browse/126307

almost 5 years ago, Kevin Caruso

The Maynard High School staff is so lucky to work in a community with caring and thoughtful students! Check out the video they made! https://youtu.be/G4i_bv2hLaw