No In-Person 2020 Graduation Ceremony Port Washington Seniors

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Port Washington seniors will not have an in-person graduation ceremony this year due to a statewide ban on large gatherings and severe social distance policies aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus, which has infected over 33,000 people in Nassau County, including over 300 in the Port Washington peninsula.

In a letter to parents of students at Paul D. Schreiber High School on Wednesday, Michael Hynes, the superintendent, said the district "cannot pursue an in-person graduation ceremony this year." The district will revisit its plans should the state lift its restrictions, he said.

Hynes thanked the community for sharing creative ideas and bringing to his attention various virtual and drive-by celebration concepts that have been implemented elsewhere in the country.

"The Board of Education, central administration and our high school administrators are in the process of organizing logistics—which are subject to change by state and local directives—to preserve the Class of 2020’s celebrations to the greatest extent possible," he said." It is important to note that we must adhere to the Governor’s executive orders regarding social distancing and regional and county guidelines for re-opening New York."

Hynes expects to have finalized logistics on plans to honor the Class of 2020's graduation within a few weeks.

"These are certainly complicated times, with COVID-19 having an ever-changing and unprecedented impact on our communities, our families and our loved ones," he said. "What is not complicated is the care and compassion we have for our students and our deep, abiding respect for the Port Washington community. We are committed to working with our parents and students to find a creative way of celebrating our 2020 graduating seniors as they conclude one milestone and look forward to beginning the next exciting stage of their lives."