Editor’s note: In anticipation of the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival in the Upper Valley, we asked Valley News readers to reflect on the last 12 months.
Last spring, end-of-school-year traditions were abruptly discontinued: the sixth grade trip, the eighth grade trip, field day, sports awards night, the spring fling dance and, of course, eighth grade graduation.
The Plainfield Elementary School eighth grade graduation for 2020 could not be held its traditional way. An in-person ceremony, held on stage in a large indoor auditorium, was not an option, so a team of talented and creative people assisted Principal Sondra Brake in creating a one-of-a-kind graduation ceremony that was truly magical!
A drive-in movie screen was rented for our outdoor parking lot. Pre-recorded videos were scheduled and filmed by music teacher Brenda Chien and tech integrator Betsy Duane. Some teachers filmed themselves announcing the student awards traditionally given to eighth graders recognized for their special merit.
The Class of 2020 advisers, Hillary Noyse, Amanda Jewell and Andrea Keene, made sure the money raised to pay for the eighth grade trip was used to purchase specialty items contained in a “Graduation Box,” including awards, certificates and graduation gear, including black-and-orange protective face masks.
Yard signs with huge photographs of each eighth grade student lined the long driveway on both sides leading up to the school parking lot.
Each vehicle was greeted by a staff member who handed out drive-in movie favors such as McNamara Farms kettle corn.
Spectators parked in socially distant assigned spaces and, at the designated time, a parade of decorated vehicles containing families with their eighth grade students honking horns and waving flags and pom-poms inspired the crowd and readied everyone for the spectacular graduation event.
The movie screen first lit up the night with eighth grader Chase Adams leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Next, Superintendent Cory LeClair welcomed the attendees. Then the pre-recorded videos, masterfully blended one after the other, showed on the screen for all to hear the winners of 10 special awards.
An amazing chorus production followed. Chorus members had been sent a backing track to listen to with earbuds or headphones. As they listened, they sang aloud and then sent their home videos to choral director Brenda Chien, who used Adobe Premier software to edit them. The chorus performed Narverud’s Sisi Ni Moja, which means “We Are One.” I was moved to tears.
Because of my planned retirement after 15 years at Plainfield Elementary School, it was my honor to announce the name of each graduate (via video) during the certificate presentation.
As the students’ names were called, the screen filled with their pictures and quotes about their favorite memories of Plainfield Elementary. The graduates had been instructed to step out of their cars — or in certain cases pop out of a sunroof — when their names were called.
School Board Chair Beth Houde congratulated the graduates, and two more special presentation videos were shown before the long-awaited slide show capturing the K-8 experience (nine years for most Plainfield Elementary grads) was shown.
Then the drive-in movie screen went dark and the decorated vehicles left the parking lot, with spectators’ vehicles joining the caravan down Bonner Lane and up Main Street as onlookers lined the sidewalks, waving to cars as they paraded past Plainfield Elementary School one last time.
It was truly a remarkable evening, and the awesome activities — arranged for the very first time last spring — may become the new traditions for the 2021 graduation and beyond.
Laura Spratt, of Lebanon, was a teacher at Plainfield Elementary School for 15 years before retiring at the end of the last school year.