GHS NEWS
GHS Announces Plans for Modified Graduation Ceremony
The multi-day, socially distant commencement is slated to begin June 15th
Dispatch Staff
Gloucester High School will be holding a modified, week-long commencement ceremony beginning on June 15th. Students will be assigned a day and time to enter the high school to receive their diploma and be recognized alongside parents and guardians.
In a May 17th email to Gloucester faculty, GHS principal Mr. Craig Reed stated “senior sponsors and the GHS administrative team are preparing for a commencement for June 15. This will not be a virtual commencement. However, to comply with social distancing guidelines, each student will be assigned a day to come to GHS for commencement. This unique approach will take several days, but it will allow for each student to receive their diploma with their family.” These appointments are to continue through “that entire week.”
In a post made to the GHS Class of 2020 Facebook page, Mr. Reed further explained that “the moment will also be captured by professional photographers and our school division will be creating a feature video (highlighting the Class of 2020) which will air at a later date to be determined on Channel 47 and on social media outlets.”
“While planning this is proving to be a challenge,” Mr. Reed continued, “it is a great option to recognize our seniors and to still allow them the recognition that they deserve. It will also make this graduation unique in that each senior will receive individualized attention.”
Details on the event were outlined via a post to the GHS Class of 2020 Facebook page. “Each senior will have an individual appointment and will be given a specific date and time during that week indicating when he/she will need to arrive at GHS,” the post explained, “The individual appointment dates and times will be shared with seniors and families by the end of this week.”
The post further outlined a bulleted list of dress, conduct, and arrival requirements to ensure the event ran smoothly. The list offered the following instructions: “Seniors should arrive wearing formal attire under their caps and gowns,” “Each senior is allowed to be joined by his/her parents or guardians,” and “Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time. Arriving late to your scheduled appointment could disrupt the schedule of the event for all of our seniors. This is very important to help this run smoothly and allows us to adhere to social distancing and gathering guidelines as prescribed by Governor Northam.”
The post went on to explain how students were to enter the building and proceed to their personalized ceremony:
“As you enter the parent loop parking lot, a staff member will direct you where to park. After parking, please stay in your vehicle until a staff member directs you to enter the building. After checking in inside GHS, the excitement begins! Seniors, upon our direction, will have the opportunity to cross the graduation stage and receive their diplomas. Parents and guardians will have the chance to witness these once-in-a-lifetime moments. As stated earlier, professional photographers will be on hand to photograph our seniors as they cross the graduation stage. Our photographers will also be able to take photos with the graduate and parents after the student has walked off the stage. Please keep in mind that this process will be fast-paced, so plan accordingly. Once photographs are complete, seniors will visit a final table to pick up a few mementos from GHS and then a GHS staff member will direct family members back to their vehicles.”
Plans for a modified commencement have been developing since May 9th, when GHS teacher and senior class sponsor Ms. Crystal Thomspon sent an email to staff asking for volunteers to work the event. “We have a plan in place,” the email read, “but we need volunteers to make it possible.”
In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, graduation ceremonies have been cancelled nationwide. This is why many high schools have decided to find a workaround to this very unfortunate situation. These alternative methods were studied by GHS administration when planning Gloucester’s own ceremony.
“While planning for our commencement,” Mr. Reed said in a statement to staff, “the senior sponsors, administrative team, and central office staff attended a Zoom meeting that outlined how another high school implemented their 2020 commencement. The principal at that particular school indicated that it was hard work, but it paid off because the faculty and staff was proud of the fact that they had recognized their seniors the best way possible.”
While the high school mentioned in the statement was not named, GHS’s plan seems to most closely resemble the plan of Newport News Public Schools, who will also hold their commencement ceremony in shifts between the 15th and 19th of May, though their live ceremony will be held outdoors at Todd Stadium. According to 13 News Now, four people (including the graduate) will be able to enter the stadium at a time, and they must arrive in the same vehicle. Due to covid restrictions, stadium occupants are not to exceed ten people. York County has not announced how they will be conducting commencement, but a May 15th email to parents stated the ceremony would be “non-traditional,” and held through June 10th and June 12th. Norfolk Public Schools will hold a virtual graduation ceremony on June 8th and 9th , followed by diploma pickup on the 11th and 12th. An “in-person ceremony” is scheduled to be held at Chartway Arena on August 3rd and 4th, though according to their website it will offer limited seating and observe social distancing practices.
Community reactions to GHS’s announcement have been mixed. Many expressed gratitude that a ceremony was being held at all, considering the looming alternative of having diplomas simply sent in the mail. A comment made on the "Class of 2020" Facebook page expressed relief at the decision: “Originally, we all thought they would just mail the diplomas and no ceremony PERIOD!” Though the fate of high school graduations are widely varied, multiple VA colleges have cancelled commencement ceremonies outright, including UVA, University of Richmond, and Bridgewater College. The Virginia Community College System similarly canceled 2020 commencement ceremonies for all 23 state community colleges. “I understand we are all disappointed,” offered another commenter, “but let’s make the best of it. I know GHS is doing their best to make this memorable. Let’s stay positive and make it a happy occasion instead of picking at the faults. Let’s not compare and move on. Remember there are High Schools that aren’t even having a ceremony. Let’s be Thankful.”
Others expressed disappointment that the event is relatively paltry compared to graduations of the past and the announced plans of districts nationwide. “No speeches, no more recognition than hearing their names called out,” read one Facebook comment, “and photo companies will profit (with the school getting a kickback of course) on this. I’m beyond disappointed. I truly put faith in GHS making a better attempt than this. I should’ve known better.”
Others expressed frustration that attendees are seemingly limited to just “parents and guardians” to adhere to statewide gathering restrictions, seemingly excluding extended family. “What about siblings and grandparents??” read one senior’s comment. “No one should have to pick who can & who can’t attend the graduation…” read another. Whether the graduate’s peers and teachers can participate is also left vague. As of this writing, teacher participation seems limited to a handful of volunteers directing traffic, and it does not appear that friends and peers will be able to spectate.
Still others felt that changes in timing and venue could alleviate some of the suggested problems. Some parents and students proposed postponing the event until August, when phase three of the state’s reopening will have tentatively begun (this, of course, assumes the success of phase one) Though this suggestion is in line with Norfolk's commencement, it could potentially omit seniors who leave in August for college orientation or military training, assuming those, too, continue as planned.
Some felt more open venues could make the event less restrictive, suggesting the school’s football field or Newport News’ Todd Stadium (though not explicitly stated, many assume the event will be held in the high school’s auditorium, as the directions say students “enter the building” and walk across the “graduation stage.”) As of now, stadium occupancy is still capped at ten people.
Like all covid related news, the announcement comes with both possibilities and challenges, optimism and disappointment. Seniors will be told their assigned graduation times by the end of this week. Parents and students are encouraged to contact the school with any questions.
The graduation announcement can be read here.