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 awar

over 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

over 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