The 4201 Schools Association today announced commencements schedules for its member schools honoring the achievement and milestones of New York’s blind, deaf, and severely physically disabled students. Various events and celebrations kick off on June 10.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10 member schools, their teachers and workforce took immediate steps to adapt to the learning and public health challenges to ensure students continued to receive quality education and support. Together, the schools are graduating several hundred students in programs ranging from infant and preschool readiness to high school.
“Our students and their families work hard year-round to excel, and as we enter June now we are looking forward to safely celebrating the Class of 2021 and the milestones all our students have achieved,” said Dr. Bernadette Kappen, chair of the 4201 Schools Association and executive director of the New York Institute for Special Education.
“We’re tremendously proud of the resilience and determination our students have shown this year. Managing through the pandemic brought challenges each day and there are many after effects – and while the virtual environment was an important piece of what we did – it was even more important to find ways to bring students safely into the classroom, incorporate PPE usage and provide a learning environment that was sensitive to academics, socialization and mental well-being of our students. We are grateful and thankful for the support we received from so many in our community – and there is reason to celebrate,” Kappen continued.
A full list of ceremonies taking place across New York State is included below:
New York City
New York Institute for Special Education (Bronx):
June 10: Fifth Grade & Middle School Moving-up Day
June 23: High School and Eighth Grade Graduation
June 24: Preschool Graduation
St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf (Bronx):
June 18: Eighth Grade Graduation
St. Francis School for the Deaf (Brooklyn):
June 23: Eighth Grade Graduation
June 24: Pre-School Graduation
Lexington School for the Deaf (Queens):
June 21: High School Graduation
June 22: Eighth Grade Graduation
June 23: Fifth Grade Moving-up Ceremony
June 24: Kindergarten Moving-up Ceremony
Lavelle School for the Blind (Bronx):
June 25: High School Graduation
Long Island
Cleary School for the Deaf (Suffolk County):
June 17: Parent Infant Program & Deaf Infant Program Graduation
June 18: Preschool Graduation
June 24: Cleary School/East Islip High School Graduation
Henry Viscardi School (Nassau County):
June 24: High School Graduation
Lower Hudson Valley
New York School for the Deaf (Westchester):
June 25: High School Graduation
Finger Lakes
Rochester School for the Deaf (Monroe County):
June 24: High School Graduation
Western New York
St. Mary’s School for the Deaf (Erie County):
June 21: High School Graduation
The 4201 Schools Association represents 10 schools located in Erie, Monroe, Westchester, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. The schools support nearly 1,500 students from across New York and are nationally recognized for their expertise and achievement. Follow us on Twitter: @4201Schools and on Facebook @4201SchoolsAssociation.
###