Mount Pulaski 2020 Graduation Plan
As a result of social distancing policies and the extension of remote learning through the rest of the school calendar year, Mount Pulaski High School will be changing the style and methodology of our graduation ceremony for the class of 2020. Students, teachers, and administrators met (via Zoom) and constructed a plan that would allow for the ceremony to remain within the confines of the law while also providing as much continuity to tradition as possible.
The graduation ceremony will be a video ceremony that will air on the Mount Pulaski High School Facebook Page at 1:00pm on Sunday, May 17th and be posted to YouTube. Anyone will be able to view the ceremony through those platforms.
The video will be created by having each senior sign up for a 15 minute appointment slot on Monday, May 11th; Tuesday, May 12th; or Wednesday, May 13th from 4-8 pm. During that appointment, the senior and up to 6 guests (in their own PPE) will come to the high school cafeteria where the following will occur:
● They will be videotaped in their cap and gown having their name called and walking across the stage to receive their diploma.
● They will have their picture taken in front of a Mount Pulaski backdrop individually and with their parents. (Only those who are quarantined with the graduate should be in the picture.)
● They will be videotaped reading a story/poem selected by the class officers.
● Those giving speeches will also be videotaped giving their speeches.
Because of social distancing guidelines, only 10 people may be in the room. These people will include Mr. Morgan, a Board Member, the videographer/photographer, the graduate, and their maximum of six guests.
These video snippets will be put together into a video graduation presentation that will include the conferring of the diplomas, the class president’s speech, the salutatorian’s speech, the valedictorian’s speech, the senior slideshow, and the senior story/poem montage.
The Video Graduation Presentation will air at 1:00pm on Sunday, May 17th via the Mount Pulaski High School Facebook Page and YouTube. Following that, at 5:00pm, the graduates will gather at the high school parking lot in their vehicles to prepare for a graduate parade. The parade will take place along the publicized parade route through Mount Pulaski. Community members are encouraged to set up along the parade route, while maintaining a proper social distance of 6 feet, to cheer for and congratulate the graduates. (Those at high risk are encouraged to remain indoors or in vehicles.)
The parade will end back at the high school where the graduates (from their vehicles) will throw their caps in culmination of the ceremony (to be videoed by drone). The Senior class sponsors will collect the caps and return them to the graduates. (Please make sure that each cap has the name of the graduate written inside.)
We understand that this is not the same as having a traditional, physical graduation ceremony. Obviously, everyone would prefer to provide the graduates with the same type of graduation that other classes have received. That is just not possible given the circumstances. May 17th is their graduation and it is an important, landmark date for them. Additionally, nothing in this plan should be seen to prevent the students, parents, and/or school from putting together some other type of ceremony, party, or other physical function in the future. Please help to celebrate this major accomplishment by supporting and cheering for the graduating class of 2020.
Sanitation Procedures:
Families are encouraged to maintain social distance and provide their own personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, etc.). During the entire process (graduation ceremony, parade gathering, etc), the school will provide hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes. Staff will sanitize furniture and surfaces between each family group that attends the graduation videotaping. Limits on the number of people and social distance need to be maintained throughout the process.
Parade:
Seniors are encouraged to ride in a pickup truck or convertible (though they can ride in any vehicle) with their parents driving and them riding in the bed of the truck. The vehicle can be decorated in graduation themed decor. Items such as candy should NOT be thrown out. Seniors should NOT get out of the trucks at any time.
