East Meadow parents making the Class of 2021’s day

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It has been a difficult year for East Meadow High School’s Class of 2021, who lost much of their junior and senior years.

“These poor kids have been out of school for so long with not much going on for them as seniors,” Jaime McQuillan, an East Meadow parent, said. “So I decided to start a Facebook page to get all the parents together in one place and throw ideas around.”

Parent Krissy Duhs, a close friend of McQuillan’s, was among the parents that joined the effort. She said they feared that their daughters, who grew up together, and their class were being forgotten.

Parents across East Meadow joined the Facebook group to discuss how they can help make the most of their children’s last year of high school. In November, they decided to deliver to each East Meadow High School senior themed gifts.

“The goal has been to do something each month,” McQuillan said, until the end of the year.”

So far, the parents were able to put up lawn signs, in collaboration with the East Meadow High School Parent, Teacher and Student Association, with slogans of encouragement and have delivered personalized cups filled with candy and snacks.

The latest gifts have been a bag of Tostitos and a $5 coupon for Moe’s, along with a card that reads, “Seniors – 2021. It’s NACHO typical senior year we were all expecting, but we hope you are still making some great memories.”

“We thought of all these great things and I think students really appreciate them,” Duhs said. “They look forward to them and it makes a lot of them happy.”

Brightening the day of the students who have spent much of their final year of high school learning from home and missing out on senior events was the ultimate goal, McQuillan said.

And, her daughter Cameryn McQuillan said, it is working. “The senior gifts are a great way to make the seniors feel appreciated,” she said. “After a tough year of constant cancelled events, the senior surprises really give us something to look forward to.”

Many events, including homecoming and banquets have been cancelled, she said. “My classmates and I are trying our hardest to come up with safe events to bring our class together and enjoy this tough year.”