Wednesday, 17 June 2020
www.TheObserver.com
Vol. CXXXIII, No. 6
MORE ON THE INSIDE North Arlington HS grads honored with signs on lawn in front of the school. See Page 5 BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY
ONE ‘2’0 REMEMBER The Kearny High School Class of 2020 didn’t exactly get a traditional graduation — but what they did get was quite memorable. Left photo: Superintendent of Schools Patricia Blood with class valedictorian Ammar Ali Elshikh. Right photo: KHS Principal Jackie Richardson with Salutatorian Gabriel Nonato Dos Santos. Inset photos by Bob Model.
By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com
I
f there is any doubt whether the Class of 2020 got shortchanged because the COVID-19 pandemic ruined their commencements, one only needs to look at how things were
handled at Kearny High School to know that was barely the case. Over a nine-day period that ended Monday, June 15, more than 400 KHS graduates were treated to mini graduation ceremonies behind the school. And while it wasn’t like it usually is at the stadium on the football field, with thousands in
attendance in the concrete stands, it certainly was personal. Superintendent of Schools Patricia Blood devised the entire setup. Graduates and their families were given assigned times for the mini-graduations. They lined up along King Street, just to the north of the building. When it was their
time — they’d enter on the blacktop that separates the school from the stadium. At the first stop, students would hand in their district-owned Chromebooks. They’d then wait a few minutes before moving ahead
CONGRATUL ATIONS to each and every 2020 Graduate!
Grasp your dreams that are ahead of you, your journey has only begun. Take big strides and have faith in how far you can go. Reach for the stars.
See KHS, Page 15