Derry Area to bid seniors farewell with lunch, parade

Derry Area School District’s traditional breakfast for graduating high school seniors couldn’t be held this year because of social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, members of the Class of 2020 are invited to a drive-through farewell luncheon on Friday. It will be followed by a parade through the community, to celebrate the completion of their high school careers.

Students are invited to decorate their cars for the parade.

Funds solicited by supporters in the community will provide the Derry Area seniors with a boxed lunch, prepared by the high school cafeteria staff. The menu features two student favorites, General Tso’s chicken and slushies.

Beginning at 11 a.m., the lunches will be distributed to students in their vehicles in the school’s rear parking lot. The students, remaining in their vehicles, then will meet with high school Principal Casey Long to receive their caps and gowns.

They’ll drive to adjacent Recreation Road, the entrance to Grandview Elementary, to line up for the parade. It will be led by local first responders beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The parade route will pass through New Derry, Derry Borough and the village of Loyalhanna, following portions of routes 982 and 217, Industrial Boulevard and several side roads. One of the Route 982 segments will take the seniors past the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center.

A virtual Senior Awards Night, presented via a Zoom link at 2020seniors.dasd.us, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday.

The seniors will return on May 29 to receive their diploma cases in another drive-through event. Actual diplomas will be mailed to the students.