High schools eye ways to celebrate new graduates
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
LINWOOD — It looks like members of the Class of 2020 will be taking the figurative next step in their future not on the football field at the Mustang Corral but in a procession of cars out front in the horseshoe.
Officials at Mainland Regional High School are exploring options for this year’s graduation ceremony amid the COVID-19 crisis and resulting state guidelines to practice social distancing and limit the size of gatherings, Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone stated in an email to the student body.
Ocean City High School also continues to weigh its options.
“I am so proud of your numerous accomplishments and how you have responded to this unprecedented health crisis, but please know I feel your frustration and understand your disappointment.
“Unfortunately, we are confident that organizing a graduation ceremony in the Mustang Corral (football stadium) at the high school while trying to adhere to social distancing and gathering guidelines would be logistically difficult to plan, especially while state guidance continues to evolve and the date of graduation gets closer each day,” the letter stated.
Officials plan to prerecord many components of the ceremony for virtual and radio broadcast, including opening remarks, the national anthem, selected speeches, honors and award recognition, the alma mater and certification of the class, the letter stated.
One thing that cannot be prerecorded is the awarding of diplomas as each student’s name is announced, an event Marrone called “uniquely special.” Therefore the administration is preparing for a “drive-thru name announcement and diploma distribution.”
“We are planning for that moment and the opportunity for each graduate to be individually recognized,” Marrone stated in the letter. “Our tentative plan is for students and their families to arrive in cars at assigned times to hear their name announced and to receive their diploma. Graduates would wear their caps and gowns, which will be distributed in the beginning of June, and have pictures taken.”
In addition, graduates and their families would be able to listen to the prerecorded components of the ceremony online or on the high school’s radio station.
“More directions with dates and times regarding the drive-thru name announcement and diploma distribution will be announced in the next couple of weeks as we finalize plans and logistics,” the letter stated, noting that the event likely would take place prior to the high school’s planned graduation date of June 19.
The school plans to stream the entire graduation ceremony the night of the planned graduation, including all prerecorded components and recognition of graduates.
In addition, MRHS has organized a “Street Team” that will provide decorations and yard signs for graduating seniors.
“The ‘Street Team’ will be going to students’ homes and delivering commemorative lawn signs and swag in the beginning of June,” the letter stated, noting that members would be wearing masks and gloves while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
The school also is developing social media posts to recognize graduates and their accomplishments in addition to recognition on the high school’s LED sign on Oak Avenue.
“We understand that this is not ideal and we all would prefer to have a traditional graduation ceremony in the Mustang Corral, but the above is our current plan and we will continue to monitor state guidance as it continues to evolve,” the letter stated. “Know that I stand with the Class of 2020 and that you are not alone in your disappointment, but I hope that our tentative plans to recognize and celebrate our graduates provides the closure and satisfaction to an unprecedented school year the Class of 2020 deserves.”
OCHS
Ocean City High School planned to start its Class of 2020 celebrations May 18 when seniors were invited to the school to pick up their cap and gown, graduation instructions, lawn sign and T-shirt. Seniors were invited to submit a photo of them wearing their cap and gown to be included in a graduation montage.
As of the most recent announcement, a letter from Principal Matthew Jamison dated May 12, the Senior Red Carpet was planned for Wednesday, May 27.
Plans call for seniors and their families to be invited to the school June 3-5 to pose for photos at the “OCHS” garden stadium sign and the traditional “Farewell” sign. A schedule was to be developed to help students adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The district has planned for a virtual scholarship and senior awards gala to be posted to the school website June 8.
The district had not given up hopes of holding a traditional commencement ceremony on the regularly scheduled date of June 16. Jamison’s letter stated that the district has developed two other options: a virtual commencement ceremony that could be downloaded and reposted on social media, as well as a large group celebratory screening of the virtual commencement.
“At this time, all state and local guidelines/mandates prohibit this event. However, if social restrictions are modified to an extent that we can host the Class of 2020 at the stadium, we will,” the letter stated.
Finally, the district is planning a senior barbecue for mid to late June as an “informal goodbye,” the letter stated.
“We plan to host a senior barbecues in the stadium courtyard where seniors can sign yearbooks; receive and return ancillary items; and if the diplomas were not distributed to date, distribute diplomas,” Jamison stated in the letter.