Pioneer Charter School of Science students celebrate delayed graduation

Staff Writer
Wicked Local
Andrew Thai.

As schools continue to prepare their reopening plans for the 2021 school year, 93 seniors from Pioneer Charter Schools in Everett (PCSS I) and Saugus (PCSS II) celebrated their 2020 graduations Aug. 19 during two separate ceremonies at the parking lot of the PCSS II building, 97 Main St., Saugus.

The ceremonies marked the end of a tumultuous year for the 48 graduates of PCSS 1 in Everett and the 45 graduates of PCSS II in Saugus, who had to shift to online learning practically overnight as a result of COVID-19. Despite the obstacles the pandemic presented, the class of 2020 persevered and received their much overdue congratulations.

“Though this was their last year of high school, it was a year of firsts for many of our students,” said Barish Icin, chief executive officer of PCSS. “Their first online learning experiences, their first pandemic, their first test of character as they gracefully handled the rites of passages in a young person’s life getting delayed. Our students have already shown they have the grit, mettle and perseverance they need to be successful as they move forward into the next chapters of their lives.”

The ceremonies required special planning due to health considerations. Students and parents were invited to a drive-thru graduation. Each family was given the chance to take photos at the stage with the graduate. Social distancing was enforced and guests stayed in their cars other than to come out to take pictures as a family. The ceremony was kept short, with students turning their tassel in lieu of being handed a diploma. Personal contact was kept between immediate family members and no communal gatherings were allowed before or after the ceremonies.

Adiva Daniar, of Chelmsford, was PCSS I valedictorian, achieving a GPA of 4.57. Andrew Thai, of Malden, was PCSS I salutatorian. Gayathri Raja, of Malden, was PCSS II valedictorian, achieving a GPA of 4.75. Patrick Orcino, of Malden, was PCSS II salutatorian.

Students from both schools exceled, with PCSS I, students gaining acceptance into colleges and universities across the country, including the University of Pennsylvania, Rice and Boston Universities. This year’s graduating class earned a total of $6,550,860 in scholarships.

Meanwhile, the graduates of PCSS II are set to attend universities including Boston, Brown, Emory, and Tufts universities. The class of 2020 earned $7,835,000 in scholarships and grants.

Pioneer Charter School of Science I and II rank among the highest achieving public schools in not only the Greater Boston area but the entire state. One hundred percent of the students who applied received acceptance letters to college. The schools provide a strong focus on math and science and the curriculum is balanced with a solid foundation of humanities and positive character building in order to best prepare their students for successful collegiate and professional careers.

PCSS’s curriculum focuses on developing strong math and science skills and many of the graduates plan to pursue careers in math and science. The students must pass five math and five science classes in order to graduate. Students must also complete 40 hours of community service. The school’s unique 195-day school calendar and model have consistently shown PCSS students surpassing both state and district averages in all subjects and grades.

Patrick Orcino. [Courtesy Photo]