Dear Class of 2021 students and families:

It’s exactly five months to graduation day!

As we near your momentous day, we want you to know that we’re continuing to work on finalizing as many possible ways to salute and recognize our resilient Class of 2021.  Please watch for more information in the next weeks.

In the meantime, we want you to know that our current and tentative plan is to host our traditional high school graduation ceremony on our football field on Friday, June 25. 

It’s important to stress this tentative plan must be based on current COVID-19 conditions at the time, including all state and local mandates and requirements in place, in late June. We are required to follow all mandates and requirements in order to safeguard the health and safety of our students, their families, staff and ceremony guests.

Our tentative backup plan will be to host smaller and intimate graduation ceremonies, as we did for the Class of 2020. However, what will be different is that we will do this in June, at dates to be determined, and only if a traditional graduation ceremony is not possible.

For now, please mark the week of June 21 on your calendars. We don’t expect to provide any more detailed information on dates until the beginning of June at the earliest.

We know these remaining five months will go by fast.  Right now, we’re asking you to finalize your name preference on your diplomas, order caps and gowns, select your favorite yearbook portraits and order your yearbooks. We need your continued help by sharing photos for consideration to be part of your yearbook. Please know your student yearbook staff and advisors are working hard to create a memorable book during this pandemic year.

While we’re asking you to do this, we’re also reminding you of the importance of your academic work. In any other “regular” year, we’d be reminding you that grades and academic success remain important for your post-Minisink Valley college, career or military plans. For this year in particular, because you all are working under hybrid instruction or fully remote instruction models, that’s every more critically important. Your teachers, guidance counselors, high school administration and support staff, along with your family and friends, remain important allies in your academic success.  

Please watch for more information on our Class of 2021 recognition plans.  We know these times are difficult for everyone. This is not what your high school senior year should be like. You have our ongoing commitment and assurance that we will do everything feasible to make these remaining five months as a Minisink Valley student the best they can be.

Go Warriors!

Sincerely,

Brian C. Monahan
Superintendent

Kenneth Hauck
Principal