This year's Commencement was scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 11, 2020. Although Governor Murphy has announced that he will allow in-person graduation celebrations beginning on July 6, he has yet to lift the ban on outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people.
It is impossible to predict when these restrictions will be lifted or what new guidelines will replace them. Therefore, we are going to proceed to hold our graduation in the virtual environment on its previously scheduled date of Thursday, June 11, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.
The program will also be posted on YouTube for forty-eight hours following Thursday’s presentation. Links will be sent out next week that will offer access to the ceremony and the YouTube video. I believe that we cannot miss this moment to memorialize our graduates’ hard-earned achievements. I do not believe that anything of greater value will be gained by continuing to wait.
We are all disappointed that the last three months of this school year have been so difficult, but do not despair. We are planning to add the “human touch” to this year’s graduation by doing something outside of the box.
One of the many things that make the HPS graduation experience so memorable is the luncheon that immediately follows the ceremony, where graduates can gather with their families and friends to celebrate this very important moment in their lives. We intend to preserve this tradition by holding a Graduation Picnic Luncheon at the HPS campus when the Governor’s order allows us to do so, hopefully in early to mid-July. The luncheon will allow graduates, families, and HPS staff to gather together to celebrate, sign yearbooks, and mark this wonderful occasion in-person.
Once again, the Governor’s directives and the degree to which I believe that we can confidently provide for the safety of all involved will guide the timing and the structure of the Luncheon.
We will continue to strive to make the best of a totally unique and complex moment in human history. Our students and especially our graduates deserve nothing less.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. As always, best wishes for continued health and safety.
Sincerely,
Toby Ray Loyd
Executive Director
