New Kensington-Arnold celebrates Class of 2020 with parade through cities

The back of Amanda Reidy’s car was filled with balloons when she arrived at Valley High School in New Kensington on Friday morning to participate in a parade for the Class of 2020, which includes her son, James.

The parade through New Kensington and Arnold was just one of several efforts the district took to recognize its graduates, who are unable to have a traditional graduation ceremony because of covid-19 restrictions.

“This is something the kids are going to remember forever,” Amanda Reidy said before the parade. “It’s nice to be different.”

There are just under 100 members in the class, Superintendent John Pallone said. Upon arriving for the parade, they were given DVDs of their graduation ceremony, which would be streaming online later that day.

Besides not having the usual ceremony in the auditorium, the class also finished the last part of their senior year at home, as schools were closed because of the pandemic.

Having school at home “was a little odd,” said graduate Danielle Yaworski, 18, of New Kensington. “It took a little while to get adjusted. It wasn’t too bad, though.”

Families wrote celebratory messages on their vehicle windows, and attached balloons and signs.

Graduate Levi Carson, 17, of New Kensington said, “It is what it is.”

His friend and classmate, Gage Deyarmin, 17, who lives with Carson’s family, said they’re the “Class of Quarantine.”

“It’s not every year they get a parade,” said Carson’s dad, Robert Carson. “I think it’s an awesome idea.”

While Deyarmin said not having the traditional ceremony was a letdown, Levi Carson said the parade was better than sitting in the auditorium.

“This is a wonderful way to celebrate,” Levi Carson’s mom, Amy Carson, said, adding that teachers delivered caps, gowns and yard signs to graduates.

“The teachers went out of their way to make the kids feel special,” she said. “We have an excellent school district here and teachers that genuinely care about their students.”

Kiauna Simmons, 22, graduated from New Kensington-Arnold in 2016 and is graduating from La Roche University this year. Her brother, Ricardo Simmons, 18, is graduating from Valley High this year.

While her graduation was the norm, Kiauna said what they were doing for her brother and his classmates was nice.

“I like how the community and the school district came together to do something,” she said.

Graduate Edward Hyatt III, 18, and his girlfriend, Cheyenne Beam, 17, both of New Kensington, wrote on the back window of his mom’s car before the parade.

“I love it. I think it’s great they’re doing something,” Hyatt’s mom, Tanica Fields, said. “I wish they did parades all the time. These kids, it’s been a long road for all of them.”