Seven Shelter Island High School seniors reflected Friday on the impact of COVID-19 on their last year of school. The students appeared from their homes via Zoom at the Town’s weekly emergency update, which was broadcast live on Facebook.
The meeting took place shortly after New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced school buildings will not open for the remainder of the school year. [See the governor’s remarks in this Gazette post.] Superintendent Brian Doelger, appearing from his office at the school, addressed the matter before introducing the students.
“I say this to everyone here with a heavy heart, my heart really goes out to the whole school community, but especially to our students, and most especially the kids that are here with us today, our seniors,” he said, offering a shout-out to the seniors who were unable to attend.
“This class in particular on a personal level has a very special place in my heart as I was able to teach them eight or nine years ago as 5th graders,” said Doelger, who returned to the district as superintendent at the start of this school year.
“When I describe this class, I describe them as, they’re not like regular seniors in high school,” Doelger said. “These kids are wonderful, amazing kids that are willing to do anything for anyone. They’re so helpful, so kind, are such great community members, such great athletes. They’re just wonderful kids and before I get emotional I’m going to kick it over to them because my heart really goes out to them.”
Emma Gallagher
Emma Gallagher, the class president who was recently named the Class of 2020 valedictorian, said she will be attending the honors college at George Washington University where she plans to major in environmental studies and political science.
“I want to say thank you to the school because pretty much right away we all got together and were able to start distance learning,” she said. “The teachers have been really caring and checking in on us.”
Gallagher said she appreciated that in the small community, faculty and staff were able to reach out in supportive ways. School Nurse Mary Kanarvogel, for example, made sure that the school tradition of a special bagel breakfast for kids who made the honor roll was continued during the shutdown, dropping off bagels at their homes while out delivering school meals to students around the Island. “Nurse Mary wrote us all little notes and that was really nice.”
“Of course it’s disappointing, but I think especially on Shelter Island we have it lot better than most kids do,” she said. “Its definitely hard but we have a really strong community, but I know that in the school and in the Shelter Island community in general, after this is all done we’re going to be closer. It will end eventually, we just have to stay positive and get through it together.”
Henry Binder
Henry Binder said he will be attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he plans to major in English with a film minor.
“The experience obviously has been hard because it’s sad to lose your senior year,” Binder said. “But it’s for a good cause because we were being distanced from each other to stop this so we don’t lose any more. I think its for a reason and we’re doing a good job adjusting.”
Abby Kotula
Abby Kotula said she’ll be attending Southern New Hampshire University next year, but, like other prospective college students, is uncertain whether she’ll be on campus or attending classes remotely. “I’m actually excited for either or because I have plans for both,” she said.
“The way the community has reacted is so amazing. I’ve been talking to a lot of my off-Island friends and a lot of their teachers don’t care as much as ours do,” she said. “The encouragement and the close knit community is just so amazing to have; it really kept me going these past few weeks.”
Dr. Doelger had asked the students to offer words of encouragement. “My key advice,” Kotula said, “is go outside every day. Maybe for a couple of minutes, maybe for an hour. Sit on the grass. Stare at the sky. Look at the blue sky. It’s beautiful out there. You should definitely go outside even if its just to walk around your lawn.”
Lyng Coyne
Lyng Coyne, who has been named the Class of 2020 salutatorian, said she’ll attend Providence College where she plans to double major in math and biology.
“I just want to say thank you to my community and my teachers,” she said. “I have not had so much support in my life, ever. This has been an incredible switch and how our teachers have helped up has been really amazing and I’m so happy for it.”
“Go outside, enjoy life while you have it,” she said. “Stay safe and just enjoy the moments you have because we hope they last forever but they come and go and you’ve gotta take them.”
Audrey Wood
Audrey Wood said she has not been feeling great. “I’m sort of struggling through this,” she said. “It’s a little hard, but we’ve got to just keep pushing through.”
“My family has been very supportive of me, very nice and kind to me,” she said. “The teachers have been very kind, too. They have been giving me a little bit more time to do things and things like that. And it helps, it does.”
“I love going outside and being with my chickens, my cats and my family — it’s just wonderful,” Wood said. “Spend time with your family, that’s my message.”
Lauren Gurney
Lauren Gurney said she plans to attend the honors college at the University of Maine in Orono where she intends to major in biology.
“This whole situation has sucked, I’m not gonna lie. With my softball season being cancelled, it’s been tough,” she said. “Especially with my senior year also being cancelled. But you kind of just have to look at the positive sides of everything and that’s the only way to get through it. My advice for the community would be stay safe and keep being positive.”
Doelger pointed out that Gurney is a softball standout and losing her senior year season was very difficult. He said that Athletic Directors from school districts around the state were planning a special live Facebook tribute to senior athletes to take place Friday at 8:20PM. Visit the Shelter Island School Facebook page to see Athletic Director Todd Gulluscio speak about our local athletes.
Lucas Quigley-Dunning
Lucas Quigley-Dunning, who said he’d given himself a haircut in advance of his appearance at the meeting, was undecided about his college plans, still choosing between Salve Regina University or Trinity College. Quigley-Dunning, who was a standout basketball player for Shelter Island, said he hope to continue to play in college.
“Right now, it’s very awesome that we live on Shelter Island with all the personal relationships that we have with our teachers,” he said. “It’s really been nice to have that while we’re doing all of our work. We can always text them.”
“Everyone’s gotta do something,” he said. “You can’t just be sitting in your house all the time. You have to go outside and see the world and do other stuff, it’ll just make you so much happier.”
And, by the way, Quigley-Dunning said, regarding Lyng and Emma, “I helped them a lot with their valedictorian stuff.”
Special plans
Each of the Town Board members offered words of encouragement, and the superintendent thanked the students for attending the virtual meeting.
“What a wonderful reflection these kids are not only on our school, but our community,” he said. “It does take a community to raise kids and Shelter Island has done an amazing job of taking care of everyone.”
“Obviously, we’re in a time of crisis but I think seeing all these kids here today gives me great hope for the future of society.”
And, he said the district has some special things planned for the seniors.
“So long as it’s legal, we will have a graduation,” he said, adding that staff are planning for various contingencies. “If we could do a social distant one on the field lawn, or only a certain amount of people could come, we’ll do that. Whether it’s in June or August or whether we have to wait for next Christmas.”
“We are going to do whatever we can for you guys.”
You can watch the entire meeting at townhallstreams.com or see it on Channel 22, the local public access cable station.
