Scarsdale Announces Socially-Distanced Graduation Programming

SCARSDALE, NY — Scarsdale High School's graduation ceremony may have been canceled, but that's not stopping graduating seniors from carrying on Raider traditions like senior-faculty lunches, graduation photos and the annual awards ceremony.

In a letter sent to Scarsdale High families on Thursday, Principal Kenneth Bonamo said the school is has made arrangements to meet a "goal of a local, student-focused experience that celebrates individual seniors and the Class of 2020 as a whole."

Graduation Ceremony

Likely first on everyone's mind is the graduation ceremony. A virtual graduation ceremony will be held Tuesday, June 23 at 2:30 p.m. A link to the ceremony will be sent to students and parents prior to graduation, and it will be posted on the district's website.

Awards Ceremony

Bonamo said the ceremony this year will be held virtually via Zoom on June 3 at 7 p.m. Scarsdale families can expect to be sent a link to the Zoom call, and it will be available on the school calendar.

Senior-Faculty Lunches

For those who want to connect with their favorite educator or faculty member before graduation, Bonamo said SHS will continue its tradition of senior-faculty lunches, this time virtually. Click here to see a calendar of available lunch slots and to schedule a meeting.

Senior Day

Senior Day and senior photos will both continue this year, despite school closures. Senior Day is also being held via Zoom this year. On June 10, graduates are invited to join a virtual Q&A with SHS' counseling department, as well as closure sessions with individual deans. The counseling department will be sending out Zoom links to virtual Senior Day activities.

Senior Photos

Senior photo appointments will be staggered for students based on their respective dean to prevent a large group from gathering.

Parents and guests will not be allowed to join seniors during photos, and students are required to wear masks and maintain social distance except when their photos are being taken. After a student's photo is taken, he or she must leave the gym immediately.

Anyone who does not want to be photographed is asked to contact Ms. Frusciante at pfrusciante@scarsdaleschools.org prior to their photo appointment.

Senior photos will be held as follows:

• Thursday, June 11
  • 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Dean M. Thompson
  • 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Dean N. Thompson
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Dean Flamholtz
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Dean Mooney
  • 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Dean Hiller
  • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Dean Sweeney
• Friday, June 12
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Dean Morgan
  • 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. - Deans D’Elia and Iosepovici
  • 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - make-up photos

Senior Prom

SHS said because this year's senior prom was canceled, refunds will be offered in the coming weeks for tickets purchased. Bonamo said the senior class government is working now to find other ways to celebrate the graduating class, both virtually and in the future, hopefully in-person.

Cap & Gown Distribution | Textbook Return

Like with senior photos, textbook return and cap and gown distribution will be staggered by dean to prevent large groups.

When returning books, students (or their parents) should only arrive during their respective time block, or during the make-up window. Drop off is held at the Wayside Lane entrance of SHS, and students are instructed to have their textbooks and library books waiting in the trunk of their cars with a post-it note with his or her name written on it.

Staff have been instructed to take books from each trunk and replace them with a cap and gown. Students should not exit their cars.

Students are invited to return their textbooks and collect their graduation regalia as follows:

• Thursday, June 4
  • 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. - Dean M. Thompson
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Dean N. Thompson
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Dean Flamholtz
  • 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Dean Mooney
  • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Dean Hiller
• Friday, June 5
  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Dean Sweeney
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Dean Morgan
  • 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Deans D’Elia and Iosepovici
  • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Make-up time if not available at previously scheduled window

Locker Cleanout

Students will be allowed to clean out their lockers between June 16 and 19 by appointment only. Parents or students must wear masks and maintain social distance while in the school building. To register for a time slot, log into Campus Parent Portal, click "More," click "PTC Wizard," and then click "Add a Meeting."

The deadline to register is Sunday, June 14.

Celebratory Procession

A car procession will be held Tuesday, June 23 at 4 p.m. to celebrate graduating seniors. Each graduate is invited to join the procession, starting at Scarsdale High School. More details are to come, but the procession will gather and depart based on the following schedule:

• 4:00 p.m. - Dean M. Thompson
• 4:15 p.m. - Dean N. Thompson
• 4:30 p.m. - Dean Flamholtz
• 4:45 p.m. - Dean Mooney
• 5:00 p.m. - Dean Hiller
• 5:15 p.m. - Dean Sweeney
• 5:30 p.m. - Dean Morgan
• 5:45 p.m. - Deans D’Elia and Iosepovici

"We on the SHS faculty laud your accomplishments, both individual and collective, and look forward to welcoming you into the ranks of Scarsdale alumni," Bonamo said.