Warwick Valley High School graduates 300 during 3 days of small graduations

Three hundred Warwick Valley High School seniors became graduates over three days of small graduation ceremonies at C. Ashley Morgan Field. Weather concerns caused a postponement of the Saturday morning and early afternoon ceremonies to Sunday.

Kevin Patterson

The seven graduation ceremonies – 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 6 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday; and 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday – were made up of 45 or less seniors each. The seniors, in their caps and gowns sat in the middle, socially distanced apart, while their families were assigned seating in groups on both sides.

Principal Marguerite Fusco told the Class of 2020, it has been an honor to work with them and get to know them over the last four years and she thanked the parents for their sacrifices to help their children reach their success.

“Your diploma, although technically it may only be a piece of paper, is worth its weight in gold,” she told them. “It signifies 13 years of commitment to academics, friendship and community. I hope that you are all feeling proud today about your accomplishment as I feel about you.” 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach reflected on meeting the students when they were in sixth grade and watching them grow to become graduating seniors.

“We’re very excited to see the future is very bright for you. I want to thank you for the contributions that you made to our school district,” he said. “I have been watching you, in particular, this year, mature and really be a role model for the rest of our students in the district. It has been inspirational. Thank you.”

Each student then came up to receive their diploma, have their photo taken both by themselves and with their families by their side. Afterward, to end the ceremonies, Dr. Leach declared them graduates.

The ceremonies capped a weekend of events that started with a virtual commencement ceremony at the Warwick Drive-In on Thursday night that included speeches from Valedictorian Nehal Ajmal, Salutatorian Henri Prevost, Class President Vidar Hageman and Class of 2020 Senior Speaker Natalie Daigle, as well as speeches from Board of Education President Sharon Davis, Dr. Leach and Ms. Fusco.