BMR High to hold two-part virtual graduation ceremony
BLACKSTONE – The Blackstone-Millville Regional School District has decided on a two-part graduation ceremony June 5 that includes a virtual live-stream of the graduates walking across a stage separately and individually at the high school campus followed by a car parade through the regional towns of Blackstone and Millville.
Principal Michael Dudek and Assistant Principal Keith Ducharme say the first part of the celebration will aim to replicate a traditional graduation ceremony, except the celebration will be done in vehicles instead of walking in a large group. The event will be streamed live starting at approximately 1:30 p.m. on YouTube and Facebook.
Here’s how it will work: Each graduating senior will be allowed one car driven by a parent or family member in their household. The graduate will sit in the passenger front seat, while another family member sits in the rear passenger seat to take pictures.
“Only the graduate will be allowed to exit the vehicle and there will be no
riding in friends’ cars or carpooling.
Upon arriving at the front of the high school, the graduates will line up in the order they would for typical graduation. The seniors will remain in their cars until it is their designated time to drive up, exit the vehicle, grab a blank diploma cover, and walk across the stage at the front of the building. Video and photographs will be taken by the schools’ videographer and photographer and the event will also be recorded for parents, family, and community members to watch at a later date. According to Dudek, an administrator will announce everyone’s name and accomplishments as they walk across the stage, similar to what is done during traditional graduation. At this time, students will move their tassels to the other side of their cap traditional caps and gowns will be given out about a week prior to the ceremony . Diplomas, however, will not be handed out at this time.
“All social distancing measures will be followed for the safety of all our students,” Dudek said. “2nly students and family members in their vehicles will be allowed on the BMR campus and there will be no exceptions.”
Administration officials and the local police will be on-site to help direct both portions of this celebration. The district has scheduled the following arrival times for students to arrive at BMR in order to make the process go smoother.
• 1 p.m., faculty co-advisors, valedictorian, salutatorian, class officers.
• 1:15 p.m., seniors with last names starting from A-L.
• 1:30 p.m., seniors with last names starting from M-Z
After all students have been recognized, the second portion of this celebration will be a parade around both towns on a designated route for community members to come out and watch at a safe distance. Students will be encouraged to decorate their cars and wear their caps gowns for this parade. Again, graduates will not be allowed to drive during the parade. They must be passengers per order of Blackstone and Millville 3olice. Departments. All caps, gowns and cords will be distributed to members of the Class of 2020 on June 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and June 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition, seniors are asked to turn in their Chromebooks and chargers. Distribution and collection of items will be outside. Students should pull up at the front entrance in their car. A staff member will place the cap and gown in your car. Video of the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held June 2 at 7 p.m. The National Honor Society will be inducting new members as well as honoring the graduating members. *uest speaker will be foreign language teacher Lisa Demers, who is retiring this year.
The Senior Awards Night will be held on June 4 at 7 p.m. to honor seniors for their outstanding achievements. A video will be produced that will include a majority of the traditional components of the ceremony and academic awards will be presented.
Due to the C2VID-19 pandemic, the Class of 2020 Senior 3rom has been postponed until either June 24 or July 22. Both dates have been reserved pending reopening guidelines from the state.
Dudek and Ducharme all of the end-of-year events to honor the Class of 2020 have been developed to comply with all federal and local health guidelines. “Although the planned events and logistics will not be exactly the same as years past, we put our best effort in making these events as memorable as possible,” the principals said in a recent statement to parents. “Many ideas were heard from the community, but we wanted to assure our seniors that we would encompass their primary reTuests of celebrating together as a class, on the high school campus, while walking across their stage.”
“The Class of 2020 will be cherished in our hearts forever,” they said. “Throughout this time, senior members have remained positive and appreciative of the efforts made to celebrate them. We will continue to surprise them with events and gifts throughout these next few weeks. Together we will get through this, together we will celebrate, together we will remain healthy and be vigilant of one another.”