By Mandy Hui ‘23
The class of 2020 will be returning to St. Marks at the end of May, both remotely and in-person, for the prize day and ceremonies they deserve but didn’t receive the previous year. Being in the senior class in 2020 was arguably the most difficult grade to be in amidst the Covid-19 pandemic as senior year is generally the high point of a high school student’s career. They missed out on opportunities and the usual social interactions between friends and teachers. Not only that, but because of the pandemic, last year’s class was also unable to experience the perennial end of year traditions in person, including the highly anticipated Prize Day Ceremony at St. Mark’s.
This year, the class of 2020 Diploma Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 29th, while the class of 2021 Prize Day Ceremony will be on Sunday, May 30th. Prior to these ceremonies, St. Mark’s will host a dinner and social event on the Friday of May 28th. This casual dinner event will be for both current and returning graduate classes under a tent on Belmont Field, and it will be shortly followed by activities and socialising under the lights on Sargent Field, along with Uhlman’s ice cream truck. In addition to the combined graduation this year, St. Mark’s is also planning to hold its annual traditional events that typically occur during Prize Day week, which didn’t happen the past year; however, these events are being modified and organised to ensure they follow Covid-19 safety protocols. One example is St. Mark’s plan to host Southborough Tea and Gentlemen’s Social this year. Southborough Tea is an event for all people identifying as female, both faculty and students, to gather and hear advice from the 6th form girls while eating chocolate-covered strawberries, whereas Gentlemen Social is for those who identify as male. This year, there will also be the greatly missed Hug Line. The Hug Line is when seniors form a long single-file line, and students, not in the graduating class, form a second line, exchanging hugs and handshakes with the seniors. Because of Covid, there will be stricter restrictions to this event as social distancing guidelines will still need to be met.
Although this year’s ceremonies will be unlike previous years, the seniors are grateful that they are still able to celebrate the milestone of completing high school after these unprecedented months. Vianey Morris ‘21 expressed her thoughts on this year’s graduation: “I think it’s really nice that the class of 2020 gets an opportunity to have something similar to graduation, and we get to have an actual goodbye for them while also having our own events. I’m fortunate enough to still be close with friends in the class of 2020 so I am happy I get another chance to see them before going off to college like them.” While graduation is up and running this year, unfortunately, a small portion of students from both classes are still unable to attend. Tommy Flathers ‘21 showed sympathy for his peers: “I’m worried about the students who aren’t able to make it to the events of that weekend from both last and this years’ graduating classes. It is their last official St. Mark’s event, and I would hate to leave a bad taste in their mouths.” Both the class of 2020 and 2021 greatly earn these ceremonies which will showcase and honour their efforts adjusting and persevering through an unusual high school experience: it will truly be an experience they will never forget.
VI Prize Day 2018-2019