Updated: Hewlett-Woodmere School District students, parents frustrated by canceled activities

Hewlett-Woodmere School District students and parents have expressed their displeasure with the cancellation of events that traditionally honor the senior class because of the lingering coronavirus pandemic.

One of those events is the annual Hewlett High School senior barbecue, typically held the day after the prom, and when it, too, was canceled, Olivia Confino created a petition on change.org titled “Let them celebrate! Help The Class of 2021 with End of Year Senior Celebrations!” As of press time, more than 300 people had signed on.

“The Hewlett High School class of 2021 has endured a challenging senior year, to say the least,” Confino said. “Our time-honored traditions such as the Homecoming parade, senior breakfast celebrations, a pep rally, even so much as a senior class photo on the bleachers have not been granted.”

Confino said that the explanation they were given for the cancellation of the senior barbecue was unsatisfactory. “This has been canceled with no explanation other than the district’s attorney saying no, since it would be too much of a logistical nightmare,” she said. “All year long, even with restrictions lifting constantly and surrounding community schools having senior celebrations of time-honored traditions, the response from the Hewlett-Woodmere administration has been, the attorney has said no.”

At the May 19 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ralph Marino Jr. said that canceling the barbecue was a “building-level decision.” “The building does not feel comfortable that they can have a large event like the barbecue,” Marino said. “The building decides what activities they want to do in a safe way.”

Hewlett High Principal Dr. William Galati explained via email the reasoning for the school cancelling the barbecue. "After much thought, it was agreed that the BBQ should be canceled out of concern for the health and safety of the student body, staff, teachers and administration," he wrote. "The last thing we want is to host a super spreader event pre-graduation. We would never jeopardize a student’s ability to attend the most momentous day of their educational journey."

One event that is taking place is the senior prom, on June 14 at Gatsby on the Ocean at Jones Beach. In a May 21 letter to high school parents, Galati wrote that Covid-19 testing has been arranged for the event.

“Due to overwhelming demand, the district will be offering walk-in Covid testing for students attending the June 14 Prom,” he wrote. “This opportunity is also available to prom guests who do not attend Hewlett High School.”

Galati added that the tests would be administered by HealthCare Logics. PCR testing is scheduled for June 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rapid testing will be available on June 14, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. “A mobile unit will be on the grounds of the high school, the location is to be determined,” Galati said. “Intake forms will be sent at a later date and are to be completed prior to arriving at the testing site.”

Despite the arranged testing, there is still some frustration among parents about the prom. Christie Goldstein, whose daughter is a senior at Hewlett High, spoke at last week’s school board meeting about the inconvenience of the prom’s being on a Monday while school is in session.

“Kids are expected to be in school the day of prom, but for anyone who has a daughter, they need more time than just after school to get ready for their prom,” Goldstein said. “With it being on a Monday, all of our local salons are normally closed on Monday. We’ve been reaching out to local places and getting them to assist the girls.”

Goldstein said she was told that students must attend school the day of the prom. “We’re being told that if we keep our kids home that day, then they won’t be able to attend the prom that we paid $150 for,” she said. “Are we really doing much teaching the week of June 14 that they can’t miss that day of school?”

Galati explained via email how an absence on prom day will be viewed. "Please know that we are required to have students in attendance to meet the 180-day requirement," he wrote "According to our District Attendance Policy #5100, we cannot decide to tell students to stay home for an illegal absence. Parents may decide to keep their children home to get ready for the prom, but it will be considered an unexcused absence."

When school elections take place next year, Goldstein said at the board meeting that she might think twice about voting to approve the budget. “If all the answers are no and we don’t get a reason, when it comes time for the budget vote each year, I can’t say I’m going to vote ‘yes’ for it.”

The “Let them celebrate!” petition can be found at https://bit.ly/3oK5AYl.

The updated story includes addidtional comments from Hewlett High School Principal Dr. William Galati. The Herald received comments from Dr. Galati after the paper's press time.