LYNNFIELD — As students of all ages begin the countdown to the end of the school year, school administrators, teachers and parents are ramping up efforts to help high school seniors salvage what’s left of an unprecedented year.
On Thursday, June 11, at 1 p.m., a Parade of Seniors will wind its way through the streets of Lynnfield. The parade will feature cars decorated in Lynnfield colors or the colors of the colleges they hope they will be attending starting this fall. Lynnfield High science teacher Ernestine Struzziero, who is retiring at the end of the school year, will serve as honorary parade marshal.
“We haven’t yet determined the final route, but we will definitely try to go past elementary schools and the middle school, where so many of the students attended,” said Lynnfield superintendent Jane Tremblay. “We are thrilled to have Ernestine lead the parade as she is the only teacher at the high school who is retiring this year, so this has been especially difficult for her.”
Saturday, families celebrated “Senior Day,” defying high winds and a snow flurry or two to honor the members of the Class of 2020 by decorating their front doors with balloons, life-size sports banners and posters, sports uniforms, varsity jackets, and other school-related and personalized memorabilia.
Sunday, the Lynnfield Fire Department got in on the action, raising a banner across Summer Street in front of the fire station. The banner featured the photos of each member of the senior class along with a message of congratulations and the words, “No Regrets.”
Lt. Ryan Batchelder, a 2008 Lynnfield graduate, and firefighter David Marengi, father of senior Clayton Marengi, did the honors.
“I can’t imagine what these seniors are going through with no senior activities at all to look forward to,” said Batchelder. “They are in an unimaginable situation.”
“I think it’s just a way of staying positive during this time and you just have to make the best of it even though it’s hard,” said Marengi.
Marengi’s spouse, Kristine Marengi, along with Kerrianne Allain, mother of senior valedictorian Lexi Allain, orchestrated the effort.
“It was all the parents, especially Kristine and Kerrianne, who just took the idea and ran with it,” said Tremblay. “We felt it was very important that we as the school department pay for it because of what it represents to these seniors in light of the many things they have lost that they can never get back.”
Plans to decorate the Common for Senior Week (June 1-5) are also in the works. The decorations include blue, yellow and white lights and ribbons, a large balloon arch and individual posters of each of the seniors.
“This will be a fun event that both the students and community can enjoy,” said Tremblay. “The DPW (Department of Public Works) is chipping in and will be hanging lights and tying ribbons around trees and the perimeter of the Common will display the posters, which the students will be able to take home as a keepsake.”
Tremblay said Wakefield Cooperative Bank has donated funds toward the lights and ribbons, while the (Cole) Giannasca family has donated the balloons. CR Signs in North Reading has offered to make the posters at cost.
Tremblay said the district is reaching out to families to help defray the costs, asking for $10 donations. Donations are optional. Checks should be made payable to Alanna Shone and either mailed or delivered to Shone at 27 Grey Lane, Lynnfield, MA 01940.
