Columbus private school plans in-person graduation following Kemp’s recent COVID-19 order
Update: On Thursday, Pacelli announced it has canceled the in-person May ceremony.
Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision this week to ease restrictions in Georgia amid the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a Columbus high school to announce it will conduct graduation in person as scheduled next month, albeit with precautions for social distancing.
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School’s ceremony will be May 16 at 10 a.m. in St. Anne Church. It also will be livestreamed on the school’s website.
While referencing Kemp’s authorization to reopen certain parts of the state’s economy, Pacelli principal Ronie Collins outlined the following guidelines in a message to the 46 seniors and their parents Tuesday:
- Each senior may invite four guests, who will sit together at the ceremony. Pacelli normally allows 10 guest per senior.
- Each group of guests will be seated together and separated from other groups by at least 6 feet.
- Graduating seniors will sit together as a group, with at least 6 feet between each student.
The plan is subject to change, depending on mandates issued by state or local authorities, Collins said.
“Please know that our administrators, faculty and staff recognize the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our seniors, who are forced to forgo celebrations they were looking forward to,” Collins said in the message. “I understand that right now our seniors may be feeling a tremendous sense of loss, frustration and uncertainty at what should be one of the most exciting times of their educational career. I hope that this updated plan is met with optimism. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do considering the circumstances.”
Pacelli communications director Jennifer Sillitto told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email Thursday that everyone attending the graduation will be required to wear masks.
“St. Anne Church’s Mask Making Ministry will provide us with masks for graduates and guests,” she said. “That ministry has already handcrafted over 2,000 masks for our community. They have been given away free of charge.”
Last week, the L-E reported the graduation plans for Columbus area high schools. The L-E asked officials for updates Wednesday. No responses included any changes.
Here is the latest information available:
Muscogee County
The Muscogee County School District plans to stream virtual high school graduation ceremonies online May 22 and conduct traditional in-person ceremonies July 22-25. MCSD superintendent told the L-E Wednesday that no changes have been made to this plan. Here is the 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.
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 last week and confirmed Wednesday.
Chattahoochee County
Chattahoochee County High School plans 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 L-E in an email last week. “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.”
In an update Wednesday, Brooks said, “If, by May 1, the state declaration changes or recommendations from GaDOE or CDC indicate that local districts have flexibility with precautions to offer a traditional graduation, we will revise our originally posted plan of a modified ceremony to provide a traditional ceremony on May 22.”
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 graduation plan later this month, Phenix City Schools superintendent Randy Wilkes told the L-E in an email last week.
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.”
Wilkes added in an update Wednesday that PCS likely will wait until Gov. Kay Ivey releases the state from her stay-at-home order.
Russell County
Russell County School District superintendent Brenda Coley told the L-E in an email Wednesday, “We have not yet decided.”
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 last week. “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. last week.
Glenwood
Glenwood School headmaster Frankie Mitchum told the L-E in an email Wednesday, “We still have ours scheduled live on the same date as originally scheduled. Hope to use the same venue.”
That’s May 21 in Cascade Hills Church at 8 p.m.
Calvary Christian
Calvary Christian School’s graduation plan wasn’t available before this story’s deadline.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 4:43 PM.
