Thursday was special at Morristown High School for a few reasons.
It was the final day of the Morris School District’s Coronavirus Update Center. (Only one new case in the last 11 days!)
It was the last day of classes.
And it was rehearsal day for next Tuesday’s MHS commencement — with a civic twist.
As the 454-member Class of ’21 practiced its Pomp and Circumstance on the warm turf of the football field, moms on the Project Graduation Committee were preparing some surprises.
Usually, they treat the seniors to a luncheon of sandwiches and chips, along with small gifts as mementos of their years at Morristown High. Thursday was different.
“Instead of seeking donations of food, drink and dessert from our families, we decided to give our support to some local businesses that stepped up in a big way during the pandemic,” said Tracey Ulrich-Matalon, in her swan song as committee chairperson.
Portofino’s Restaurant, Tito’s Burritos, Longfellow’s, Pascarella’s and Beenie’s catered the luncheon, with pre-packaged items for extra COVID safety.
And along with duffel bags and blankets emblazoned with MHS logos, seniors received $15 Morristown Partnership gift certificates, good at dozens of downtown establishments. Now, “every senior will boost the local economy when they go shopping. It’s a win/win!” said Ulrich-Matalon.
Gift cards also were given to school nurses, maintenance people and select faculty, to recognize their pandemic efforts.
“Fantastic,” Principal Mark Manning said of the cards.
“Obviously, we’re trying to do our part helping businesses recover. Who better to do that than our graduates?” he said.
For 33 years, Project Graduation has staged a student fashion show to fund a chaperoned all-night graduation party. COVID cancelled last spring’s show and party, but all systems are go for next week’s all-nighter, at Cosmopolitan in Wayne.
Slideshow photos courtesy of Tracey Ulrich-Matalon. Click/hover on images for captions:
Although April’s fashion slow was slimmed down, it raised enough money to underwrite the party and Thursday’s luncheon and gifts, said Ulrich-Matalon.
Her youngest child, Matteo, gets his diploma on Tuesday, and so she will step down from Project Graduation. During her eight years as chairperson, the vorganization has grown from 40 parents to 209, with 15 subcommittees.
Volunteers Maiken Gehsmann, Tricia Plott, Erica Rivetti, Sue Bauer and Bevin Tierney worked “tirelessly” on Thursday’s luncheon and gift bags, Ulrich-Matalon said.
‘WE MADE THE BEST OF IT’
For the graduates-in-waiting, the next few days will approximate a normal ending to an abnormal year.
A full schedule of in-person classes only resumed last month, after a hybrid mix of virtual and classroom instruction dating to March 2020. Schools in the regional district closed a number of times, with additional home quarantines for entire classes, as the virus rampaged through the community.
But rising vaccinations and diminishing infections brought an easing of state social distancing mandates just in time for the waning weeks of the Class of ’21.
Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin. Click/hover on image for captions:
An outdoor concert in May was the school’s first live music of the COVID era; seniors had a prom.
Manning said he was pleased at how things came together for this school year, after a bumpy finish for the Class of ’20.
“The pandemic caught us by surprise” last year, he said. “Anyone who says we were prepared in March (of 2020), I question their veracity. We spent the summer identifying needs, and came back incredibly strong in September. The fact that we were able to open in hybrid fashion, and remain open, for the most part, says a lot.”
Students at Thursday’s rehearsal seemed eager to cross the finish line.
“It’s nerve-racking, but exciting to go to college and be independent, and make new relationships, and learn to do things for myself,” said Jackeline Chimborazo-Malo, who will study criminal justice management this fall at John Jay College.
Jack Keller, a defenseman for the varsity hockey team, will skate for the University of Delaware. He feels good about his senior year, all things considered.
“It feels crazy, but despite COVID, we made the best of it and had a great year,” he said. “A great four years, actually.”
Keller’s secret for a great pandemic year?
“Pretend like it’s normal.”
Morristown High School’s commencement is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 10 am, on the football field. If the weather’s bad, the program moves to 5 pm. If the day is a washout, everyone will try again on Thursday, June 24.
