With large gatherings cancelled for the foreseeable future, local high school seniors have been left with unsettling questions as to what will be done with their milestone events like prom and even more significantly, graduation.
Ellen Hoffman, Bellport student council advisor, has worked with the Class of 2020 since the ninth grade. Since March 13, she said, plans for the class Olympics, academic “Jeopar- dy” games, variety show and end-of-the -year senior carnival have been can- celed without plans to reschedule.
“We had 50 days to go until the ice cream social, then 30 days to go, which was also cancelled,” Hoffman said of
the series of events. “Prom [in the con- ventional sense] has been cancelled and graduation moved to July is still a pos- sibility.”
Two weeks ago and this Wednesday, she said, a virtual meeting was held with key Bellport High School players to discuss possible prom and gradua- tion alternatives. While prom is most likely not going to happen in the tra- ditional sense, high school principal Timothy Hogan is figuring out any way
possible to still hold a graduation cer- emony for the over 300 students in the graduating class.
Some ideas floating around for grad- uation include a live graduation, with students spaced socially distanced from each other on the football field rather than the bleachers with a very limited number of guests socially distanced on the other side, if any at all. If no guests are permitted, virtual viewing will be available. Students can then walk single file onto the stage without handshaking or receiving a physical diploma. Stu- dents will then be required to go directly to their cars to leave rather than taking pictures and saying goodbye. Diplomas will then be mailed. However, no actual decision has been made, though more discussion was held yesterday, Wednes- day, May 6. Details about official plans for graduation will be released.
Another idea was to have the stu- dents parade in their cars with bal- loons and paint on their windows while driving through the different neighbor- hoods and passing by all the elementary schools. People can cheer them on from the sidewalks while remaining socially distanced. Though a live graduation is favored, the parade will most likely still happen either way. The last idea and last resort would be holding some sort of a livestreamed virtual graduation.
As for prom, Hoffman said ideas include dressing up and parading through the parking lot, holding a socially distanced picnic in circles in a field, or possibly holding something more traditional next year, though she said, that would be really uncertain.
“They should be remembered for being the class that survived hopeful- ly the only pandemic in our lifetime,” Hoffman added, stating that projects are in the works to honor them. “They are sad and beaten, but not defeated.”
One project idea includes a mural of some sorts inside the school, possibly with different pieces made by each stu-
dent displaying their name and words of encouragement to be put together to form a rainbow. The idea, she said, could go on in the future as a fundraiser for a scholarship, possibly in the name of the valedictorian who lost his father to COVID-19, a nurse who fought on the front lines.
Until decisions are made, she added,
the students have expressed that they have been making personal art, baking for hospitals and having socially dis- tanced birthday circles to relieve stress and keep their spirits high.
“I would tell them to not to let the disappointment define them, but instead to continue to show their spirit and to be the creative leaders that they are,”
she continued. “Make the best of a bad situation.”
Courtney Gerard, a senior from Bell- port High School, will be attending Syr- acuse University for communications design in the fall.
“We had a lot to look forward to. All of our hard work was being recognized and now it feels like our senior year has been put on hold,” she said of the possibility of losing prom and having a modified graduation. “I hope that we can have a celebration and closure to our senior year at Bellport High School. The best thing we can do is wait.” Another senior, Carly Diolosa, who will be playing lacrosse at Mercy College and attending their Business Honors Pro- gram, said their senior year has taken the most irregular and unexpected turn.
“I remember when I first got to high school, I had always looked forward to being a senior because it seemed so mem- orable and would unquestionably be the most fun year of high school,” she said. “Unfortunately, the opportunity to live out our senior plans has been cut short. If I was told months ago that March would be the last time I would walk the hallways with my friends and classmates or sit in class with the most amazing teachers, I would not have believed it.”
She, along with her fellow classmates, said they wish they just had one more day in the building. “Seniors, without question, this is a time you have had to call upon your ‘bet- ter-selves.’ On behalf of Bellport High School and the entire South Country community, thank you for rising to that challenge!,” said Hogan. “I am overcome by the compassion, tenacity and leader- ship you have demonstrated, as well as the unconditional support you have provided to one another, your families and our entire school community.”
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