Education Briefs | June 5
Harwood seniors to be featured on WCAX tonight, June 5
WCAX Screenshot.
WCAX Channel 3 will be recognizing high school graduates from across Vermont as they prepare for their commencement ceremonies altered due to coronavirus precautions.
The tribute to Harwood Union High School seniors is scheduled to air in the last 15 minutes of the 6 p.m. newscast Friday, June 5.
After Friday, the feature will be on the station’s website to view at WCAX.com/graduates.
Waterbury Rotary honors Harwood Union High School seniors
The Waterbury Rotary Club has announced its honors for members of the 2020 graduating class at Harwood Union High School.
The Lise Bornstein-Malter Community Service Award will be given to Olivia Schmalz from Moretown and Claire McGeorge of Waitsfield. They each will receive $500.
The club will award three students with new Apple Mac Air Book laptop computers. The students were chosen based on academic performance and community service with consideration of participation in Rotary programs. The laptops will go to Adeline McKibben of Waterbury Center, Sarah Kate Smith of Moretown, and Kennedy Wimble of Waterbury.
In its announcement, the club thanked the Harwood Union High School Guidance Office for assisting with the applicant list and congratulated the entire senior class.
“This year has presented many challenges,” the announcement said. “Every applicant was worthy. Our only regret is that we could not do more.”
Crossett Brook plans ‘Drive-Through’ 8th Grade Graduation June 9
Crossett Brook Middle School officials announced plans for a “Drive-Through” Eighth Grade Graduation ceremony to be held June 9 between 3 and 6 p.m. at the school.
The ceremony will be unique given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response which closed schools in mid-March. Since then, students have continued learning from home.
Crossett Brook usually holds a ceremony for students, families and teachers in the school gym with awards, speeches, music and a slide show. Graduates spend the last day of the school year on a field trip to the Six Flags Great Escape amusement park in New York.
That isn’t the case this year.
“For the last four years, we have been looking forward to celebrating this class of fantastic students….Unfortunately, this year has been far from normal and we’ve had to rethink many things,” Principal Stephanie Hudak said in announcing the plan. “While this is not how we imagined celebrating our 8th graders this year, we are obligated to follow all (Agency of Education) requirements given our current reality.”
The ceremony will involve vehicles with students and family members proceeding through the loop, stopping to receive bags with certificates and other mementos from school staff members.
Students are asked to wear masks and everyone is reminded to refrain from contact, skipping handshakes and hugs.
A slideshow has been prepared with extra messages this year from teachers and staff. It will be shared electronically with students and their parents and will be posted on the school’s website.