By Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi, MEd²., M.S., M.B.S., M.A.², Ed.D., Superintendent, Pennsauken Public Schools

As I write this, we are currently in the sixth week of remote learning and everything is going very well in Pennsauken Public Schools. The Board of Education and I wish to thank all the parents, grandparents, and guardians for their hard work. We are going through the end of year motions like every other school district, but we know how hard you have worked, the time you have put in, and the sacrifices you have made. For that, we say thank you.

I would like to address several main areas for this communication, which include our referendum construction, graduation, the senior awards ceremony, and the possibility of a return to school.

Referendum Construction

Referendum construction is ahead of plans, as the field house, media center/library, high school security vestibule and all high school projects are scheduled to be completed this summer. Construction is going very well. The “Rick Taylor Field House” will soon be completed. Our vision for Pennsauken Public Schools has become a reality because of your positivity and we wish to thank our families. It is a very big deal, because Pennsauken Public Schools will soon have the best facilities in South Jersey, if not the entire state.

Graduation For The Class Of 2020

Unfortunately, due to this pandemic, graduation will not take place in the way we are used to. However, we have a plan for our seniors to walk and receive their diploma. Graduation for the Class of 2020 will still give students the recognition they so rightly deserve!

In groups of 20, students will be invited, along with two guests, to the high school auditorium for a unique graduation ceremony. As their names are called, they will be able to walk across the stage in their caps and gowns to receive their Pennsauken High School diplomas. The ceremony for each group of 20 will be live streamed via Facebook. After all groups have received their diplomas, each recording will be edited together to showcase the entire class in one graduation ceremony including speeches from the Valedictorian, the Salutatorian, and the Principal. This final ceremony will be posted to the high school website, YouTube and Pennsauken Television. While we recognize this was not the original plan for the ceremony, we hope to give the Class of 2020 an event that honors their achievements and celebrates their time at Pennsauken High School.

Senior Awards Ceremony

The Senior Awards Ceremony is a special event that recognizes the achievements of our outstanding seniors and includes many scholarship and grant opportunities for post secondary life and celebrates students who are continuing their education, entering the workforce, and enlisting in the armed forces. In an effort to continue this tradition, a virtual Senior Awards Ceremony will be created. Each student’s senior portrait will be shown. The list of awards they received will be included, as well as their plans for life after graduation. Students will also be asked to submit their favorite memory of Pennsauken High School to be included on their Award Ceremony slide. Finally, the Top 20 of the Class of 2020 will have a highlighted segment of the show.

Returning To School This Year

I constantly receive a lot of questions about a potential return this school year. Governor Murphy has stated we are out until at least May 15. I honestly would be very surprised if we returned to school this year; but we will remain hopeful as we miss seeing our students every day.   

As we get closer to the end of this school year, the Board of Education and I continue to hope for all of this to be over and to return to our normal way of lives. I hope all of you stay safe and happy. Our prayers are with all of you that are personally affected by this pandemic. We hope to see all of you soon.