CROWLEY, La. — The Acadia Parish School Board announced on Thursday that it will hold individual graduation ceremonies for seniors in the Class of 2020 from May 22 - 23.
In a letter from Superintendent Scott Richard to parents and students, SPSS states that its ability to conduct the traditional ceremonies everyone is accustomed to will not be feasible given the safety precautions they are bound to exercise as it relates to large group gatherings.
SPSS states that it has developed alternative plans for graduation that will allow for diplomas to be conferred in a format whereby students will individually receive their diplomas and awards at each school campus.
According to Richard, the general format will allow for each senior student along with a small, limited number of guests to arrive on campus in full cap and gown attire in a staged area; proceed to receive their diploma; allow for photographs; and for each senior to receive a complimentary electronic compilation version of the entire graduation process for each school.
APSS has designated the following dates for alternative graduation ceremonies to occur at each campus:
Crowley High School - Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Crowley High Campus (specific details and times to be announced by school administration)
Rayne High School - Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Rayne High Campus ( Session 1 @ 9am, Session 2 @ 12:30pm, Session 3 @ 4pm)
- WHERE: Rayne High School horseshoe, front of main building
- PROCEDURES: Graduation ceremony will be a drive through style ceremony. Due to the large number of graduates, we will conduct three (3) sessions. The graduating class will be divided into three equal groups by alphabetical order, and each group will be assigned to one of the three sessions. The sessions will be limited to one (1) vehicle per graduate, with each vehicle having a designated driver who is not participating in the receiving of the diploma. Vehicles must be passenger vehicles (ie RV's, buses, golf carts , etc.) will be prohibited. Vehicles will park in the stadium parking lot until the session begins. Graduates and parents can begin parking 30 minutes prior to the start of their session. Vehicles will then be directed through the campus driveway system leading to the front of the main building. The graduate and parents (optional) will then exit the vehicle, proceed up the front steps, receive the diploma, take a photograph, and then exit the opposite side of the steps re-entering their vehicle and exiting the campus. **In the event of inclement weather, the procession will be moved to the parent pick up line with Seniors and their parents exiting their vehicles, and entering the North Gym through the first entrance, walk to center court, receive diploma, take a picture, then exit through the second exit, re-enter vehicle, and then exit campus. Read more here
Iota High School - Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Iota High Campus (specific details and times to be announced by school administration)
Midland High School - Friday, May 22, 2020 at the Midland High Campus (7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
- PROCEDURE: Beginning at 7:30 a.m. Graduates will begin lining up alphabetically, in cars in the teachers' parking lot. There will be a person in the parking lot directing line up and giving each graduate a name card for their windshield (enter from Airport Road) Cars will proceed to line up using the same path as our dismissal routine. Beginning at 8:00 a.m., the graduate will exit the car near the A/C in front of the school and walk to the entrance to receive their diploma and be photographed. All persons will be 6 feet apart. The graduate will then get back into their vehicle and the next senior will walk up. The estimated end time is 2:30 p.m. A photographer will take a photograph of each graduate receiving their diploma. The school will give each a 5x7 of this picture.
- Parent will be able to see video and photograph form their cars, according to the school. The ceremony will be under the walkway outside.
APSS adds that each Acadia Parish high school will send more specific details including individual arrival times, parking areas, staging areas, etc., regarding the process that will need to be followed to accomplish this most important milestone for seniors in an organized and safe manner.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Download our free app for Apple,Android, Roku and Amazon devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
