Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 19, 2020 Maldonian yearbook distribution conducted this week A cherished tradition of Malden High School senior year is upheld By Steve Freker W hen you get right down to it, the list of items on the high school senior "Treasure Hunt" is pretty lengthy. The coronavirus shortened that list in a hurry when schools local and across the nation were shut down due to health and safety reasons. Initial casualties included the Senior Prom, Awards Nights for scholarships and academic groups, Senior Nights and at the top of the list, Graduation Day. Most of those events are gone forever, unfortunately, as the Class of 2020 has borne the brunt of the losses on the remembrance "treasure trail". A number of school systems, including the Malden Public Schools have worked and planned diligently to restore an outdoor Graduation Day ceremony to try and ease the blow by providing seniors their biggest honor. At present, as long as local, state and federal guidelines permit it, Malden High School graduation for the Class of 2020 will be held on Monday, August 3 at Macdonald Stadium with ample physical distancing, reduced school officials on the field and a restrictive number of attendees from friends and family. One other time-honored traniors were officially presented copies of the school yearbook, the 2020 Maldonian. It was originally planned for the Maldonian yearbooks to be distributed on May 28 with the caps and gowns, in a carefully monitored fashion in a large space at the Holden Street parking lot next to MHS.But a delay in the delivery missed the distribution by a few hours and an alternative plan was made. On Tuesday, this week, longdition was also upheld this past week, when Malden High setime Maldonian advisors Jim Valente and Beth Horwitz manned a yearbook distribution line that was similar to the cap and gown day, with adequate physical distancing and Mystic Valley Elder Services partners with Action Ambulance to streamline communication with Meals on Wheels consumers N early 2,000 consumers in 11 cities and towns rely on Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) for Meals on Wheels home delivery, with close to 3,000 meals provided each day. Especially for frail, homebound elders, the nutrition services provided by MVES can be a lifeline. However, what happens when a new pandemic or inclement winter weather interferes with Meals on Wheels delivery? To address these challenges, MVES has partnered with Action Ambulance to unroll a revolutionary phone communication system to ensure consumers are alerted in a timely fashion to changes, cancellations or delays in their Meals on Wheels service. As soon as MVES becomes aware of a situation that will interfere with a Meals on Wheels delivery, MVES alerts Action Ambulance, and in turn Action Ambulance sends out automated calls through a state-of-the-art phone system that can reach up to 2,500 consumers in less than one hour. The prerecorded calls come from an MVES nutrition program phone number, ensuring that consumers know the calls are legitimate and not from telemarketers. The messages feature the voice of a Nutrition Services team member. According to MVES Nutrition Director Angie Fitzgerald, the partnership with Action Ambulance –which has been in place for six years – has ensured seamless communication between the MVES nutrition program and its many consumers. She points out that Action Ambulance provides the phone alert system free of charge to MVES. “They are always just a call away when we need their assistance,” she said. “I simply send our list of active consumers to Action Ambulance and they ensure the calls are made.” “Working with Action Ambulance has streamlined our communication process and made it more instantaneous,” said Fitzgerald. “It truly is such a great partnership and has helped us send out reassuring messages to our consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Action Ambulance CEO Michael Woronka said, “Action Ambulance recognizes the critical need Mystic Valley fills by providing a range of support services to the disadvantaged and frail within the community. These services allow for as many people as possible to remain in their homes or group setting while keeping their independence. We are proud to support an organization such as Mystic Valley Elder Services especially during these uncertain times.” “Our Meals on Wheels program offers much more than just a meal. It’s a friendly face at the door, a warm exchange. I am very proud of what we do. Seeing firsthand why the service is essential and who is being served is such a privilege,” said Fitzgerald. To learn more about Meals on Wheels, visit www.mves.org or call 781-324-7705. June is LGBTQ Pride Month, celebrated each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. Each year, Malden High School raises the Pride Flag on its flagpole in front of the school and on June 1, Principal Christopher Mastrangelo oversaw the raising of the Pride Flag at MHS. Customarily the members of the MHS Rainbow Lions Gay-Straight Alliance participate in the ceremony along with members of the school community but it was not possible this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy Photo) use of PPE. Unfortunately, part of the yearbook tradition in the past was the time set aside right after distribution where students sign each other's yearbooks with personal messages of goodwill. Teachers and administrators often sign the students' books with "good luck" messages as well. This year that part of the senior experience was not possible due to the coronavirus restrictions. "It went very well. We were able to get most of the yearbooks to the students and they were very excited to finally have them," Valente said. "It's something they get keep forever and they will be looking at their Maldonian in years to come." Valente, an MHS media and English educator, also teaches a year-long class in which students work daily on all aspects of putting Maldonian yearbook together.They start from scratch at the beginning of the school year and the student-driven process involves every detail, from design to photos and text. It's a monumental, annual task and the end result is a keepsake student will treasure forever. "There is so much work that is put into the yearbook," Valente said. "The students work very hard every year under strict deadlines and they deserve all the credit for the finished product. "We are very proud of what they do and how they do it," Valente added. "It's great we were able to brighten up the year for our seniors by getting them their yearbooks." Pride flag raised over Malden High
15 Publizr Home