May 20, 2020
Dear Members and Parents/Guardians of the APHS Class of 2020,
While this is certainly not the way that we had hoped to end your senior year, please know that we have been thinking of you a great deal over the past several months. We share the disappointment and frustration that the COVID-19 Pandemic has thrust upon us all. Although we will not be able to invite you and your families this year to the Empire State Plaza for our traditional commencement ceremony, we have been working very hard to develop a plan which will bring us together to celebrate your amazing accomplishments, while also maintaining the safety and well being of everyone within our school community.
The Averill Park Central School District is proud to share that we have partnered with Herff-Jones, Marching Order and Stage Clip to produce a live-streaming presentation of our commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020. This production will allow for each graduate to upload their own videos and images of themselves in cap and gown, as well as provide personalized messages to be shared with family and friends. Our live streamed production will feature all of the components of a traditional graduation. Your family, whether they live locally or far away, will be able to tune in and watch you graduate live on this virtual platform, as well as access the event for years to come.
We are even more excited to share that we are able to bring everyone together for this event by hosting a live premier viewing of your commencement ceremony production on Saturday, June 27th at the Jericho Drive-In. We expect gates for this event to open at approximately 8 p.m., with the viewing set to begin approximately 9 p.m. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be escorted to your own personalized parking spot, customized with a senior sign, including your photo and the AP logo. During the live streaming event, when we arrive at the conferment of diplomas, we aim to personally present your diploma to you, right at your vehicle. The evening will conclude with a fireworks show over the drive-in.
At this time, due to limited space, we will offer one vehicle per graduate. For planning purposes, students or families in need of consideration for a second vehicle should contact Mrs. Perez at perezs@apcsd.org no later than Friday, June 5th. In the days and weeks to come, students and families should expect email communication from both Herff-Jones and APHS with further details on what we will need from you in order to be sure you are included in this special event, as well as more details on the event itself. Please be sure to check your email frequently, and respond to directions as soon as possible after they are sent out.
Finally, keep in mind that pick-up for caps and gowns is scheduled at the high school on May 27th from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and May 28th from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Please park in the front lot of the high school and report to the distribution station at the main entrance.
The past several months have presented our world with unique challenges in a million different ways. This has required us all to think broadly, be flexible, and create new responses to emerging needs. The Class of 2020 has done an amazing job of showing its resilience and strength throughout all of this. You will be receiving more details via email from Herff-Jones and Marching Order in the days to come. We will also keep you up to date should anything need to change.
In the meantime, please be well and stay healthy. As always, we thank everyone in our school community for rising to the challenges we have faced together with such poise and character. That’s Warrior Strong!
Sincerely yours,
Heath C. Quiles
Principal
Averill Park High School
Principal
Averill Park High School