Harris County announces alternative graduation. Here’s what other area schools have planned
Harris County High School is the most recent school in the Columbus area to finalize its plan for an alternative graduation ceremony amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Harris County principal Tyler Dunn announced on the school’s Facebook page the following activities for seniors:
- May 15, from 6-8 p.m., a senior parade through the campus in their vehicles. They will enter from Mobley Road and go through the bus landing headed toward the front of the school, where they will be directed to Highway 116. Spectators must remain in their own vehicles.
- May 16, a virtual graduation ceremony will be streamed online. “Time is still to be determined as it depends on other factors, and link for the event will be forthcoming,” Dunn said.
- July 27, an in-person graduation ceremony during the evening. Students will practice that morning. More details and exact times will follow when the plan is finalized.
Here is the latest information available about graduation ceremonies for other high schools in the Columbus area:
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. 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.
Chattahoochee County
Chattahoochee County High School plans a modified graduation ceremony for the originally scheduled date of May 15, starting at 8 a.m., on the football field.
The event actually will be mini-ceremonies for 10 graduates at a time.
“All graduates will have the opportunity to enter the field via pomp and circumstance, cross the stage to receive their diploma, move their tassels over as a small group and have pictures on the field,” ChattCo superintendent Kristie Brooks told the L-E in an email. “. . . Each graduate will be allowed four guests during the scheduled time for their graduation moment.”
Video of the ceremonies for all graduates will be available on the school district’s YouTube channel, social media accounts and website, starting 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
Now that Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has eased restrictions as infections from the deadly coronavirus pandemic have slowed, Central High School has changed its graduation plan from virtual to in-person ceremonies.
They will be conducted May 11-15 in Garrett-Harrison Stadium, starting at 7 p.m.
“I’ve been told we’re the first in the state (to have an in-person high school graduation ceremony this year), perhaps the first in the nation,” Phenix City superintendent Randy Wilkes told the Ledger-Enquirer. “I don’t know. We didn’t do it intending to be the first by any stretch. It was just the nights designated for the video already.”
So the seniors are signing up to attend one of the five ceremonies, with less than 100 allowed per night. Each ceremony will have the same program and speeches by the valedictorian, salutatorian, principal Tommy Vickers and Wilkes.
Each graduate is allowed four guests. They will sit in the home stands, 6 feet apart and separated by two rows of bleachers, Wilkes said.
Masks won’t be required or made available, but they are “highly recommended,” he said. “We’re not going beyond the governor’s order.”
Russell County
Due to the recent amendment to the social gathering guidelines released by Gov. Ivey, Russell County High School has changed its graduation plan.
Instead of a “drive-in ceremony” June 6, starting at 9 a.m. at the school’s football stadium, RCHS will have a more traditional sit-down graduation ceremony, Amy Coleman, the district’s media relations director announced in a news release.
The graduation still will be closed to the public. Each graduate will be issued four tickets for guests to attend the ceremony. The 6-feet distancing guidelines will be maintained with reserved seating in the stands. Graduates will be seated on the field and also will maintain the 6-feet distancing guidelines. No one will be allowed past security checkpoints without a ticket.
Smiths Station
Smiths Station High School will conduct a “drive-in” graduation ceremony May 30, starting at 9 a.m. EDT, in the school’s student parking lot, principal Brad Cook told the L-E in an email.
The audio of the ceremony will air on a radio station that will be set up at the site for everyone in each car to hear the speeches, Cook said. The frequency hasn’t been determined. The ceremony also will be televised on CTV BEAM.
Seniors will be called to the stage by homeroom to get their diploma. After they are photographed, they will return to their cars.
“Once the entire homeroom has completed the ceremony,” Cook said, “the next homeroom will pull their car up to a front-row parking spot as the previous homeroom exits.”
A parade of the cars into downtown will follow.
“Mayor (Bubba) Copeland and I have teamed up to try and send these kids off with a farewell they deserve,” Cook said.
Brookstone
Brookstone School is planning a ceremony for July 25, communications director Connie Mansour told the L-E.
Pacelli
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School will conduct individual high school graduation ceremonies for each of its 46 seniors and five members of his or her family June 4, June 6 and June 12 at St. Anne Church.
“After much study, planning, and prayer, the school felt it was imperative to find a creative way to honor this special moment in our seniors’ lives while keeping the safety of our students, their families and our faculty at the forefront,” Pacelli announced in a message to parents.
Parents will register online for a graduation time slot. During the ceremonies, each senior will be presented a diploma and any awards earned. They also will be given a blessing by Pastor Fr. Robert Schlageter, and they will be celebrated by administrators and faculty.
Each graduation will be live-streamed on Viking Live.
Pacelli plans to have a future event that will allow the Class of 2020 to celebrate together “when it is safe to do so,” the message says.
Glenwood
Glenwood School’s graduation will be May 23, starting at 9 a.m., on the football field, headmaster Frankie Mitchum told the L-E in an email.
“Social distancing guidelines will be followed,” he said. “Groups of no more than six from the same family spaced 6 feet apart from other groups. Seats will be marked off. Masks will be recommended. Temp checks will be required before the entering stadium.”
Calvary Christian
Calvary Christian School’s plan wasn’t available.
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 4:00 PM.
