Peekskill High School Graduation: Tent, Tickets and More

The following letter was posted on the Peekskill City School District website Wednesday:


To the parents and guardians of the graduating class of 2013:

This communication is to advise and update you on the graduation proceedings for your student, to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2013 at The Paramount Center for the Arts located at 1008 Brown Street in Peekskill. Please be advised that, though we have been required to change the venue for graduation rather suddenly, we have made every effort to make this experience as wonderful and memorable as possible. 

You should have received the logistics regarding when and where your students should be in order to line up for the processional. We have included that information with this letter, as well. We would also like to inform you of other aspects of the day that are not captured in the previous document.


Amenities:

-There will be parking at the high school and a free shuttle to the graduation venue will be made available for commuters. Busses will run from the high school to the Paramount from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and return shuttles will run from the Paramount to the high school starting immediately after the graduation until 4 p.m.

-We will provide a tent for overflow spectators in the parking lot adjacent to the Elks Lodge at 1038 Brown Street. Free water, courtesy of Stop & Shop, will be made available for attendees inside the tent. Water will be available for sale inside the Paramount for indoor attendees.

-Audio and video will be wired into the tent so that those that cannot get seats inside the Paramount will still be able to experience the event. There is enough room to accommodate 300 standing attendees. You are welcome to bring chairs. 


Details:

-Each student will be allowed five tickets for inside the theater. We have increased this number from the previous allotment of four tickets to try and better accommodate our students and their families.

-An extra ticket or two may be available upon request. Due to high demand we will not be able to entertain requests for more than this. ALL EXTRA TICKET REQUESTS MUST BE MADE BY THURSDAY, JUNE 20. Requests can be made to the PHS main office at 737-0210 ext. 301. We are building a first come, first serve waiting list. Extra tickets will be left at the Paramount’s box office with the student’s name on the day of graduation.

-NO bags will be permitted inside the theater with the exception of purses.

-As an added security precaution ALL attendees will be wanded by a hand-held metal detection device upon entering the theatre.

-A photography section will be made available for parents who wish to approach the stage to take pictures. Please remember that we are working to keep the venue safe so we ask you to keep the aisles clear. Security and the Peekskill Police Department will be on hand to assist with this effort.

-The Peekskill High School Parents Club is paying for a professional photographer to be on hand. These photos will be available on Wednesday, June 26 at the school. When your child comes to claim their diploma, they can also pick up their photograph.

Change is never easy, and the graduation of a child is one of the most important moments in anyone’s lifetime. We cannot prevent the situation we find ourselves in, but we can respond to it with pride, care and an exceptional effort in order to insure that the moment is as special as it can possibly be.

Please join the Peekskill High School in making this graduation one of the best this city has ever seen.

Thank you,

Fred Hutchinson
Principal
Peekskill High School


Editor's note: The letter has been edited for style. The content was not altered.