As quickly as Covid-19 tore loose Arlington High School senior traditions this spring, positive forces sprang into action — school staff, imaginative parents, volunteers.
Gifts await seniors at AHS.
Among them was Lori Pescatore, who has coordinated the Last Blast, the annual all-night senior party following graduation. The coronavirus had closed schools in March, and of course derailed commencement rituals, include the parent-chaperoned “blast.”
What to do?
Paul McKnight, the Collomb House dean, got in touch with Pescatore and told her about the idea to celebrate he had heard about in nearby towns: give gifts of up to $50 recognizing AHS seniors, showing how the community feels for what these kids are all missing.
To get the word out, on May 2, Pescatore created a Facebook group, whose final name was “Sponsor an Arlington High Senior — Support Our Ponders.” See it here >> She invited friends, who invited more friends. Those signing up emailed Pescatore, who assign each a senior. She kept track on a Google Sheet.
321 get gifts
“It all happened so quickly and smoothly I never thought I would fill them up so fast,” she told YourArlington on Tuesday, May 26.
The result? “We were able to get gifts for 321 AHS seniors,” she wrote.
All of the sponsors’ gifts were gathered together at AHS on May 19. Two days later, AHS Principal Matt Janger noted, seniors dropped off books and emptied lockers, in small groups.
And then, on May 22, surprise day arrived. With the help of AHS staff, volunteers distributed gifts to all the seniors, along with their cap, gown and a T-shirt.
“Some of the gifts are quite beautifully packaged and thoughtfully prepared,” McKnight wrote before the gifts were delivered. “All thanks to our very caring Arlington community.”
One of Lori’s son, John, along with Clara Tully and McKnight helped both days. Tully is a 2019 AHS grad and a family friend; her sister, Lydia, is graduating this year.
Senior ‘elated’
Lori wrote that another son, Michael, a senior, “was elated to get a gift and have something positive to focus on for him and his friends. People always want to help, and to me, there is never a shortage of folks stepping up, and this was no different. So many people just want to show a little love toward our AHS seniors.”
Her further words addressed graduation customs stolen from many in 2020:
“I was truly amazed at how many people wanted to be involved all across the town and how quickly folks reached out to me willing to help.
“I heard from a retired teacher from Dallin who lives in another state call me wanting to help out and we made it work. We also had college kids who went to AHS reach out and become a sponsor as they knew all the amazing activities our seniors would be missing.
“We all realize that this isn’t the end-all for these kids, and of course, there are far greater problems going on, but in our little community this small gesture meant so much to our AHS seniors. It was also great timing for the package to arrive at homes, as last Friday night was supposed to be their senior prom.”
A senior addresses Covid-19
Meanwhile, as this effort was taking place, consider another response to Covid-19. These words from Sanjay Vakil, who calls himself “a proud dad,” are published his permission:
“I’ll preface this with a ‘I know he’s my kid, but ….’
“You may not be aware, but Han Vakil’s been acting as the courier organizer for a very new nonprofit called MasksOn.org.
“I’d suggest you see the website and see what we’re up to, but I thought you’d like to know that Han was involved very, very early 3D-printing some of the earliest adapters. As other folks took over that part, he started moving equipment and parts around between test sites, engineering sites and to hospitals that were testing.
“When we started shipping in earnest, he became the courier organizer, making a daily run up to the manufacturing facility in Haverhill, organizing outbound masks on our porch (!) and then communicating with couriers and physicians to make sure deliveries occurred. For locally distributed masks, this got them to our local healthcare workers very quickly!
“At this point, he’s made organized dozens (hundreds?) of successful deliveries.
“Not bad for effort during ‘senioritis.’
“P.S. I’m guessing many other young adults have been helping out around the town. It’d be nice to hear about what they’ve been doing.”
YourArlington’s editor agrees. If you know about an AHS senior whose are also helping during the pandemic, contact Bob Sprague here >> Put AHS helps in the subject line.
April 29, 2020: For AHS seniors — and everyone else
This news feature was published Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
