MARGATE - The Eugene A. Tighe Middle School plans to hold an eighth grade graduation ceremony "as close to normal as possible," Superintendent Tom Baruffi said Wednesday.
The graduation ceremony to be held on the Tighe School field, 4 p.m. June 16 will include social distancing, but will not be as spread out as last year's graduation, which saw families separated into their own pods. Because Gov. Phil Murphy has lifted restrictions on outdoor gatherings, attendees may be seated closer to the graduates and not have to wear masks, Baruffi said.
"It's nice to know we're going in the right direction," he said.
Principal Ryan Gaskill said the graduates will enjoy a series of end-of-school-year activities including an awards ceremony to be held in the Dominick A. Potena Performing Arts Center in the morning of graduation.
The Board of Education Wednesday, May 5 approved several field trips for seventh and eighth graders and members of the National Junior Honor Society, and the annual right of passage 8th Grade Plunge will take place on June 17. Trips include a Tree to Tree Adventure zipline course at the Cape May County Zoo, Six Flags Great Adventure, Camp Ockanickon in Medford, Ocean City Boardwalk and Congo Falls Miniature Golf in Margate.
The district is planning its first-ever Pickleball Tournament on May 19, with fifth and sixth grade, and seventh and eight grade teams, as well as teacher and administrative staff brackets.
In addition to holding a car wash on May 23, the school will hold a Teacher-Student Switch Day on May 19 and a Talent Show on May 20.
Students at the William H. Ross Elementary School will enjoy Field Day on June 10, and there will be limited attendance at a play put on by second graders, Principal Audrey Becker said. Kindergarten students will go to the Cape May County Zoo on May 19.
Baruffi said the board's reorganization meeting on May 17 would be held virtually, but the board could return to in-person meetings at its next regular meeting on June 9.
The Margate schools were one of the only school districts in Atlantic County to hold half-day in-person classes throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The schools were able to socially distance and follow all safety protocols due to its relatively small class size. As of April 26, there were 201 students attending the Ross School and 180 at the Tighe School.
