Gorham Middle School (GMS) has scheduled its eighth grade recognition night for Thursday, June 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. The rain date is Monday, June 15.
Instead of the traditional graduation celebration and dance, Gorham’s Class of 2024 will have a car procession loop around the middle school. The route will begin on Quincy Dr., then to Caitlin Dr., to Weeks Rd. Cars will be able to loop around and pass the cars driving in so students can see each other and cheer their friends on. Students will have their names on a sign on the passenger side of their car to help identify them.
The plan is to have music, the Gorham Police Department, the Gorham Fire Department, and all of GMS’ teachers spaced out cheering the cars on as they approach. Assistant principal Tom Smith and principal Quinton Donahue will read student names over a speaker system and hand out certificates and bags that will include t-shirts, books, and copies of the slide show on a thumb drive.
In order to keep everyone safe and healthy while celebrating, only teachers and GMS staff are allowed outside of vehicles while on school property. Masks and gloves will be worn by all staff participating in the recognition ceremony.
Principals of the three Gorham Elementary Schools said they will also have parades for fifth graders (Class of 2027) who are moving on to GMS next year. Zoom meetings with parents, slide presentations, t-shirts, virtual talent shows, and other creative measures will take the place of the usual end-of-year activities.
The Great Falls fifth grade recognition parade will be held Friday, June 12, at 2 p.m. The route will begin at the Public Works parking lot at 80 Huston Rd. Cars can begin lining up at 1:30 p.m.
If vehicles are to be decorated, it should be done so prior to arrival so occupants can remain safely inside. The parade route will travel along Huston Rd. and take a left on Route 237 before taking a right onto Justice Way and heading into the bus loop and looping through the staff parking lot before exiting back at Route 237. The Gorham Fire Department will close out the procession.
Teachers and staff will be spaced along the walkway greeting and cheering students on, with the path of the procession through the bus loop decorated with congratulatory signs and support.
Students should sit on the right side of the vehicle. When vehicles arrive at the front of the school, the fifth grade student’s name will be announced. The classroom teacher will approach the vehicle for a quick, socially-distanced photo that will be shared with families.
Each fifth grade class was assigned a color to identify which class community they belong to. The colored paper was given out when students arrived to pick up their materials at Great Falls. The student’s name should be on the colored paper and it should be displayed on the passenger’s side of the windshield. This will allow staff to prepare for each arriving student.
Only teachers and Great Falls staff are allowed outside of vehicles while on school property. Masks will be worn by all staff participating in the recognition ceremony.
Village will be continuing its tradition of providing each student with a special t-shirt and a fifth grade slideshow. This year’s slideshow will include pictures of students learning from home and teachers will host virtual “watch parties” with their classes the week of June 8.
Additionally, Mark Curtis, from Gorham Sand and Gravel, donated a large boulder to the school for fifth graders to sign. The boulder will serve as a special memorial for these students who thrived despite the unexpected shift to distance learning.
As a final celebration, Village will host a fifth grade drive-by parade on Wednesday, June 10, from 9-10 a.m. Families are invited to drive through the bus loop as Village staff members cheer and say goodbye – from a safe distance.
Narragansett will be having a fifth grade celebratory parade through the bus loop on Wednesday, June 10, at 6 p.m. to honor its 33 fifth graders.