The following piece was provided by Minuteman High School:
Dear Minuteman High School Community,
As the weather gets warmer and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, there’s a level of optimism and energy that’s palpable. It’s invigorating to see more Minuteman students back in school and deeply satisfying to observe more in-person learning taking place.
Spring is also a time to celebrate our seniors – a rite of passage that was greatly limited one year ago. Now, we are better able to plan safe events to honor the Class of 2021.
In place of a traditional prom, Minuteman is holding multiple events for the senior class. Senior Night on May 20 will be one to remember. With a red carpet laid out to greet students, there will be activities held spaced apart in multiple locations throughout the common areas of our school. Activities will include a trivia game, photo booth, music, and more – with COVID-19 precautions in place. We are also planning a Drive-In Movie Night for seniors on May 21 in the parking lot of the school, along with a limited in-person graduation ceremony at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on June 4, which will be live streamed.
Despite the hardships they have endured, our seniors are demonstrating their amazing skills and ability. Recently, 18 were awarded medals in the SkillsUSA Districts competition for demonstrating competency in their career technical education (CTE) area. The seniors also recently presented an impressive array of senior projects, which included a mechanical globe, hydraulic arm, video game, computer processor, a nightstand, and so much more.
As administrators and teachers, we are also planning for the summer and fall. We are offering summer school programming that will focus on CTE skill development, academics, and social-emotional growth. And, we will hold a week of programming specifically for new freshmen to build camaraderie and community.
This fall, Minuteman will welcome its largest freshmen class in recent memory of just over 200 students. The soaring demand for high-quality CTE clearly demonstrates a need to expand our capacity to accommodate more students long-term. The Minuteman School Committee has approved moderate expansions on our building to increase our student population from about 630 to 800 over the next three years.
Our students have been through a lot: Stay-at-home orders, remote learning, no school sports, and family health or financial issues caused by the pandemic. I’m proud of them – along with our parents, teachers, and staff – for excelling this year despite difficult circumstances. Many of our seniors are already securing jobs in their trades or being accepted to excellent colleges and universities.
Congratulations to all, especially our seniors in the Class of 2021.
Edward A. Bouquillon
PhD Superintendent-Director Minuteman High School