Commack High School Changes Graduation Date to Avoid Excess Heat

Commack High School seniors will graduate two days earlier than originally scheduled this year in order to address health concerns resulting from excess heat during daytime hours, Prinicpal Catherine D. Nolan announced on the District's website this week.

Graduation has been moved from Sunday, June 29 at 10 a.m. to Friday, June 27 at 5 p.m.

Nolan said that the change was made after receiving many concerns over the years regarding the late June temperatures. She said that in a widespread, online survey, parents of this year's seniors responded asking for a change to avoid the high temperatures.

"There was little doubt that the overwhelming majority (64 percent) of parents would like to move this ceremony to Friday evenings. Further, we consulted with the high school PTA, as well as various community religious leaders, each of whom supported the decision to move the ceremony to Friday in an effort to hold the ceremony in the evening when weather conditions might be less oppressive at that time of year," she wrote.

The ceremony will end sharply at 7 p.m. in order to respect the religious needs of the community, she added.

"We expect that this change of day and time will decrease the likelihood of health-related incidences due to the overwhelming heat typically experienced during the afternoon hours at that time of year," Nolan said.

The high school will also have a cooling station during the ceremony for family members who are medically compromised and free bottled water will be given to all attendees.