Columbus-area high schools planning alternative graduation ceremonies. Here’s a list
Although schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 isn’t stopping Columbus area school districts from creating alternative ways to conduct high school graduation ceremonies.
Here are their plans:
Muscogee County
The Muscogee County School District’s high schools are planning to stream the ceremonies online May 22 and hold traditional in-person ceremonies July 22-25, assuming health conditions will permit such gatherings, superintendent David Lewis said during the school board’s monthly work session Monday evening, conducted via videoconferencing.
“I know that our seniors are experiencing a multitude of emotions, everything from being sad to angry, whatever it might be, and I certainly understand that,” Lewis said. “… We want to ensure that they understand how very proud we are of each and every one of them, and we want to celebrate with them in an appropriate way.”
Lewis said he has been working with the health department, the mayor and other city officials on the plans for the ceremonies. Here is the tentative schedule:
- July 22: Rainey-McCullers 7 p.m., in the school’s concert hall.
- July 23: Hardaway 5 p.m., Jordan 7:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center.
- July 24: Catapult 3 p.m., Carver 5:30 p.m., Spencer 8 p.m., Columbus Civic Center.
- July 25: Northside 9 a.m., Kendrick noon, Columbus 2:30 p.m., Shaw 5:30 p.m., Columbus Civic Center.
“Don’t make any permanent reservations at this time,” Lewis said. “Give us more time to see how things pan out. But we do want to let our seniors and their parents know that we’re working very hard to try and provide these activities for them, if at all possible.”
Harris County
Harris County High School plans to have a virtual graduation ceremony on or around the originally scheduled date of May 16, district spokeswoman Rachel Crumbley told the L-E.
“Every single one of us wants to provide that special moment for our seniors,” HCHS principal Tyler Dunn said in the district’s news release. “But, not at the risk of even one life. So, we continue to ask for patience with regards to details about a graduation ceremony.”
Chattahoochee County
Chattahoochee County High School is planning a modified graduation ceremony for the originally scheduled date of May 22 on the football field.
“Five students will be allowed at a time, and each graduating senior will be assigned a time to come to the field,” ChattCo superintendent Kristie Brooks told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “The typical speakers will have their condensed speeches looped virtually during the modified ceremony.
“Though we know that this is not the ceremony that any senior imagines, our goal was to create as much as a typical ‘on the field/across the stage’ opportunity as possible. Due to over 65% of our students being military connected, we realized that providing an alternative date later in the summer would not accomplish our goal as many families will have already relocated across the country.”
Leading up to the ceremony, ChattCo will honor its Class of 2020 in the following ways, Brooks said:
- Friday nights, Panther Stadium’s lights will be on for 20 minutes, beginning at 8:20 p.m.
- A “Panther Pride” yard sign will be delivered to each senior.
- The school’s digital marquis will scroll with each senior’s name and picture.
- Every graduate will be featured on the school’s social media accounts.
Phenix City
Central High School is preparing virtual activities to honor its senior class and expects to announce its plan later this month, Phenix City Schools superintendent Randy Wilkes told the L-E in an email.
“The system acknowledges that the last few weeks of high school are some of the most memorable of a young person’s life and is saddened by circumstances that caused the cancellation of activities,” he said. “It is the hope of PCS to give this senior class a final opportunity to celebrate the milestone of graduation together.”
The virtual activities, Wilkes said, will include a “senior academic program, release of the top 10%, and an announcement of the valedictorian and salutatorian. Cap and gowns will be issued in May.”
Russell County
Russell County High School is planning a graduation ceremony for sometime in June.
“We have not worked out all of the details at this time,” RCSD superintendent Brenda Coley told the L-E in an email. “. . . Additional Information is forthcoming.”
Smiths Station
Lee County Schools hasn’t decided its graduation plans, said Smiths Station High School principal Brad Cook.
“We are still waiting on how the pandemic affects our communities and country,” Cook told the L-E in an email. “There are several options available that we will decide on when we know what conditions and directives we have.”
Brookstone
Brookstone School still is developing its graduation plan but already has placed a “Let’s Celebrate” sign in the yard at each senior’s home, communications director Connie Mansour told the L-E.
Pacelli
Pacelli High School principal Ronie Collins is scheduled to meet via videoconferencing with the senior class Thursday to discuss the graduation plan, communications director Jennifer Sillitto told the L-E.
Glenwood
Glenwood School headmaster Frankie Mitchum expects a final decision to be made May 1.
Calvary Christian
No update on Calvary Christian School’s plan was available as of Tuesday afternoon.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 5:59 PM.
