Districts struggle to plan graduations
School districts are scrambling to find a way safely to celebrate graduations on all levels, but high school ceremonies are particularly giving students, parents and schools headaches.
The traditional filled auditorium or stadium, the parade of students in cap and gown filing onto a stage to be given a diploma and a ritual handshake, the hugs and parties of friends have all vanished from possibility for the Class of 2020.
Some districts, like Fairfield, are debating whether a parade of cars is good enough; others, like Bridgeport Public Schools, are planning to hand out diplomas through car windows.
The discussion rages on, heatedly in many cases.
Graduation plans for the Trumbull High School
Class of 2020 were hastily backtracked after information posted on social media about a vehiclecentered graduation caused a storm of objections.
“In light of some evolving concerns, the high school and Central Administration are looking to clarify some areas and making some changes, if possible, with regard to state-mandated protocols,” Interim Superintendent Ralph Iassogna wrote Friday.
The clarification came a day after Principal Marc Guarino sent a letter to parents and students informing them that the school would hold a modified graduation June 20.
Citing the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated social quarantine, Guarino said the school had planned a car-centered ceremony for the more than 500 students receiving a diploma.
Reaction to the announcement was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Despite a lack of details, commenters condemned the plan as a “drive-thru” graduation. An online petition urging the administration to reconsider generated more than 2,100 signatures in
about 20 hours.
“This is completely ridiculous!!! There is no way my child will get into the car and receive his diploma through the window... seriously, let that visual sink in... do better, THS,” wrote Lynn David.
“My senior deserves better,” wrote Kelly Orazietti.
In contrast, Westport’s plan for a car parade seemed to receive less pushback.
According to Interim Superintendent David Abbey, the Staples High School Graduation Committee and Staples principal Stafford Thomas have planned the parade for graduates on June 11. The parade route will go from Long Lots Elementary School to Staples.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. and is expected to last one to two hours. Abbey said Thomas has worked alongside the WestportWeston Health District on spacing of faculty and the number of faculty over the three campuses — Long Lots, Bedford Middle School and Staples — for the parade.
“There will be no stopping as concerns have come up with respect to the potential of people getting out of cars and ignoring social distancing,” Abbey said. “Additionally, if cars were to stop, with an estimated 450 cars, parade time could jump from two
hours to as much as six hours.”
Staples’ campus will also be lined with congratulatory banners to honor the students, he said.
“This parade will be a celebration,” Abbey said. “Staples radio station 90.3 will have music and live commentary, cars will be decorated and the event will also be streamed on TV.”
A virtual graduation for Staples students will take place June 16 — the original graduation date. The virtual ceremony will have a master of ceremonies to guide viewers through all of the segments included in the traditional graduation program.
Abbey said the ceremony will be streamed and a link will be sent to seniors so they can access the video to view at any time.
Monroe has chosen a hybrid plan, including cars and an inperson walk across a stage streamed live for friends and family.
Masuk High’s graduation will begin online with seniors then heading to campus in waves to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.
Acting School Superintendent Joseph Kobza and Masuk High Principal Jacob Greenwood said the graduation will be held June 12.
“Our goal is to provide the best experience possible for our graduates given the current constraints,” Greenwood said. “We promise to make every senior’s graduation day safe and enjoyable.”
In a letter to parents outlining the graduation plans, Greenwood said the opening remarks and speeches portions of the ceremony will be recorded earlier in the week and streamed online beginning at noon on graduation day.
The procession to Masuk High begins at 2 p.m.
Seniors and families will receive a link to sign themselves up for specific times of the day to parade to Masuk High. Seniors are encouraged to decorate their vehicles. Plans are also underway to have Route 111 decorated with signs and balloons to celebrate the seniors as they proceed to Masuk.
Vehicles will enter the Masuk campus, head up the driveway toward the guard shack and from there to the stage set up in front of the school, keeping to the proper social distance.
The student will get out of the car, receive their diploma before walking across the stage, briefly remove their mask for a photo at the podium and hear their name called over the PA system, get in the car and finally proceed
through the parking spaces and exit the south gate nearest the JV softball field.
Greenwood said the entire procession will be live streamed so others can log in and watch the seniors receive their diplomas. As the graduate exits the stage and gets back into their car, the next graduate will step up.
Parents’ and students’ clear choice was to wait until later in the summer for a traditional ceremony, according to Greenwood, and that was also the district’s preferred choice.
“Unfortunately, on a conference call with superintendents (earlier this month), the state commissioner of education, along with the state epidemiologist, explained that this would not be possible,” said Greenwood.
“I share your disappointment over the loss of events this spring and certainly never envisioned I would be presiding over a graduation ceremony following state social distancing guidelines,” said Greenwood.
“However, I am committed to making the best experience possible for our graduates,” added Greenwood, “and fully intend to make the class of 2020 graduation a lasting memory full of hope, togetherness, and, of course, Panther Pride.