ATTENTION: Families and Students of the Class of 2020 – Graduation Plans
To the Families
and Students of the Class of 2020:
The COVID-19
pandemic is devastating in many ways. For our 2020 seniors, it means the loss
of many important final moments. We want you to understand we recognize the
importance of celebrating your accomplishments. This message is to help you
understand our work to plan for commencement celebrations while still
maintaining the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families.
Each year our high
school commencement hosts over a thousand people in one single space. Due to
our current situation, we are unable to host a traditional ceremony. Our
traditional commencement is canceled, but a graduation ceremony will be
delivered on May 29, 2020 in a different format.
We feel very
strongly that we must recognize our graduates on May 29, 2020 rather than
attempting a postponement. Some students and families will have immediate plans
that will take them on a new journey after our planned commencement date. This
option allows all students and families to celebrate the closing of this
momentous chapter together.
Our plan is to
create a virtual graduation video. We would still like every senior to feel the
honor of dressing up in a cap and gown and standing before friends and family
in traditional commencement attire. Therefore, on May 29, 2020, we ask that you
take the time to put on that cap and gown and take a selfie or pose with
members of your immediate household family for a photo. Post your photos to
Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram using #WHS5182020. Together, we will flood
social media with our collective celebrations – just like you would on a
traditional graduation day.
Our commencement
video will be shared on our website, Facebook, and other social media sites at
5:30 p.m. on May 29, 2020. From the comfort and safety of your home, you may
view the full-length commencement ceremony on your smart TV, computer, tablet,
or smartphone.
While watching the
ceremony, you will see and hear graduation music, speeches, and Trojan Advisors
announcing each student’s name individually as a screen shows student photos
and information. As the ceremony ends, we encourage students to throw that cap
in the air and pat yourselves on the back. This moment signifies that you made
it to your commencement day!
After
watching the commencement video, we would like all seniors to report to the
Prairie Elementary parking lot with their parents/guardians in their vehicle
(one vehicle per graduate) at 7:00 pm. The Worthington Police and Fire
Department will be escorting our graduates in a car parade around Lake Okabena
and through town. We will be asking the community to come out and recognize our
graduates as the processional proceeds through town. We ask that seniors
and family members stay in the vehicles throughout the duration of the parade.
Please watch for additional details concerning the car parade in the next few
weeks.
Even
though this will be a non-traditional Commencement, our goal is to make this
evening special and memorable for your families. Our Class of 2020 have
continually shown their ability to overcome adversity, and your bright future
will be evidence of your resilience.
Thank you for your continued grace, patience, and understanding. We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the class of 2020.
Josh Noble and Doug Brands
WHS Principal and Learning Center Principal
Posted on Mon, April 27, 2020 by Anne Foley
