By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
SOMERS POINT — Students weren’t able to go to Jordan Road School for their eighth-grade graduation ceremony this year, so the district brought it to them.
The usual ceremony, held in the school’s gymnasium, had to be canceled this year due to social distancing and crowd limitations related to COVID-19.
For at least four hours Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday last week, eighth-grade teachers and school administrators stopped by the home of every student to deliver a diploma and lawn signs celebrating their accomplishments.
Teacher Darcy Broglin-Drutz and Assistant Principal Mat Thomas were placing the signs in the students’ lawns while Principal Carleena Supp was notifying them that the “Eight Grade Team” was waiting outside for them.
Those participating were teachers Michael Dalessio, Krystal Tardif, Rebekah Cowley, Marisa Cassaro, Nicole Magnotta, David Laut, Sue Brannigan and Kim Fontana, along with Supp, Thomas and district Superintendent Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder.
Students donned their caps and gowns and posed for a photo in front of their personalized sign to be used in the district’s virtual graduation ceremony video that aired Friday, June 19.
“This is great because they each get their own little individual experience,” Supp said. “We get to be part of their family. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s definitely different and something they will remember throughout their lifetimes.”
CarneyRay-Yoder said it meant a lot to her to be able to provide the experience to students and their families.
“We all feel horrible that kids are missing out this year and we want to make it special for them,” she said, comparing it to a valet service. “We’re coming to you and we’re bringing you happiness and excitement and light. That’s what we are all about.”
She said the response from students and their families has been terrific.
“They are very excited that we’re doing something personal and in-person, where the Eighth-Grade Team and administration come to them, and I’m really excited to see all of the hard work from Mrs. Supp and Mr. Thomas come to fruition with the virtual graduation on Friday. It will be a beautiful thing to keep for many, many years,” CarneyRay-Yoder said.
Stopping by a house on New York Avenue, the team cheered for and congratulated Nash Orlov as he walked outside, his mother, Barbara Orlov, trailing behind.
Orlov said she thought it was special what the district was doing for her son, whom she noted would be attending the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the fall.
“I think it’s awesome and I’m very happy,” Orlov said.
Supp said the district considered holding a limited ceremony at the school after Gov. Phil Murphy lifted the stay-at-home order and increased the size of outdoor gatherings to as many as 500 starting July 3, but ultimately decided against it.
“If we were going to have an in-person ceremony then we would have had to limit the number of guests they could take,” she said. “That was not something that was going to meet the needs of all of our students and all of our families, and we just felt this was going to be a better way, that we could involve as many people as possible.”
She said during the caravan’s travels they got to experience a special moment with the students, their parents and even grandparents, aunts and uncles.
“It just was a better experience for us to do it this way for them,” Supp said.
Belhaven Middle School car processional
In Linwood last week, Belhaven Middle School celebrated its eight-grade graduates with its Eighth Grade Car Processional as part of its 2020 Promotional Exercises.
Families gathered in their vehicles with their graduates, wearing their caps and gowns, at Seaview Elementary School and were escorted to Belhaven Middle School by police officers.
The district live-streamed the parade on its Facebook page so students could watch as they made their way through the processional, then provided a link to the virtual graduation ceremony to eighth-grade families.
Mainland graduation will be July 9
Meanwhile, Mainland Regional High School has scheduled an in-person graduation ceremony, or ceremonies, for Thursday, July 9, according to a letter from Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone posted to the school website.
On June 17, the MRHS “Street Team” delivered commemorative swag and yard signs to the graduates’ homes. The “Street Team,” made up of MRHS faculty and staff, members of the After-Prom Committee and the Mainland Regional Education Foundation, visited the homes of more than 300 graduates to distribute caps and gowns.
On Friday, June 19, MRHS published to social media and the district’s website (mainlandregional.net) a modified virtual graduation ceremony including opening remarks, certification of the class and pictures of graduates with name announcements. The virtual graduation ceremony has been modified because an in-person graduation ceremony has been tentatively scheduled.
“More information regarding the time or times of the ceremony or ceremonies will be forthcoming. At this time, graduates will be permitted to bring only two guests to the ceremony or ceremonies based on approved ceremony plans and ‘gathering’ limitations,” the letter stated. “The graduate and their two guests will be seated on the field in the Mustang Corral during the ceremony.
The letter further stated that if more than one graduation ceremony is necessary, one would be held in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
Beware of Dog sign
Jake Morris and mom Dawn Spicer.
“His hard work paid off,” his mother said.