One of the most painful casualties of the coronavirus for the Bishop Maginn seniors is the loss of their graduation. This is a painful loss for any high school senior – they will never get to celebrate together or say goodbye to their friends and teachers as they leave school.

It is especially painful for many of these refugee families.

For them, graduating from an American High School and moving on to college is a very big deal to the students and the families. And this year is hard enough.

Principal Mike Tolan told me he would love to get each one of the graduating seniors a baseball-style cap to commemorate their graduation.

He is looking for ways to help them celebrate and honor their hard work.

The school is planning a drive-by ceremony where seniors can drive by with their families one after another in kind of ceremony and get their diplomas and cap.

I volunteered to buy the caps, the school has no budget for that.

After some research and price-comparing, I settled on StitchAmerica, the caps cost $13 apiece and the custom lettering is free.

The front of the cap will say “Bishop Maginn”, and then below, “Class Of 2020.”

The back of the cap will say “Griffin Strong.” That’s the school’s nickname.

The cap will be Navy Blue, the lettering white. Principal Tolan asked for 37 hats, the total cost came to $471.75 plus $31 shipping. The hats will arrive by the end of May, and I’m having them shipped directly to Sue Silverstein.

I am also hoping to help the school with an Amazon Wish List so they can purchase the new coronavirus safety stickers and signage so they can re-open in the Fall. That’s a few days away.

They need one or two plexiglass shields and the “six feet separation” stickers that go on floors and in hallways.

I have enough money in the fund to cover this cost, although contributions are always welcome: via Paypal, [email protected] or by check, Jon Katz, Refugee Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.