The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 a unique and historic year for graduating seniors, both locally and all across America.
In Middle Tennessee, school districts are holding commencements differently, including outdoor and drive-in ceremonies, and have implemented guidelines to keep students and their attending families safe.
Some individual schools have already celebrated their seniors, while many others have planned ceremonies in the coming weeks.
Here’s what some of them are doing — or have done already — to mark the occasion while minding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines:
Cheatham County Schools
Two of the Cheatham County School District’s three high schools have held graduation ceremonies as of press time: Cheatham County Central High School and Sycamore High School.
Each celebration had a set of health and safety guidelines in place for graduates and their families.
Officials limited each Cheatham County Central High School senior to three tickets, which were required of people seeking to enter the venue, Communications Director Tim Adkins said. There was no re-entry permitted after people exited the venue.
At Sycamore High School, graduates were limited to four tickets, also required to enter the ceremony, he said.
Graduates of each high school were required to wear masks and were provided with one if they did not bring one. Cheatham County Central High School theatre teacher Lauren Street made cloth masks for students, Adkins noted.
Families sat six feet apart during the ceremony in marked seating areas on the football bleachers. They were all asked to wear masks, and hand sanitizing stations were made available, Adkins said.
“We also asked guests that if they had been sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days, to not attend this ceremony,” Adkins said.
“Guidelines are still being developed at (Harpeth High School) as the ceremony is not until July 18,” Adkins said. “However, it is likely HHS will have to limit attendees due to the mandated social-distancing guidelines. The school hopes to have more specific information closer to the date about that as well as other guidelines.”
Harpeth High School’s graduation is slated for July 18 at 7:30 p.m. on the football field.
Robertson County Schools
Robertson County Director of Schools Chris Causey issued a message this week, listing guidelines “which will be strictly adhered to” at graduation ceremonies.
“With all the changes in our worlds over the last few months, modifications must also be made in regard to our graduation ceremonies,” Causey said. “School is about the journey to this important day, and more than anything, we wish to lift up our graduates for having persevered in their work and successfully completed this part of their education.
"It has been our honor to educate your young people, and we wish them the best as they take their next steps in life," he said.
In order to attend a graduation in Robertson County, the following guidelines must be followed:
- Graduates will be limited tickets, and each family unit must sit together in marked spots during the ceremony.
- Park in the designated area - which will open 30 minutes before the ceremony - and proceed to the football field. Officials ask attendees to avoid loitering at vehicles.
- Teachers will check tickets and remind guests to maintain a six-foot distance from others. Guests should let those teachers know about any handicap accommodations, arranged ahead of time by contacting the school principal.
- Families should proceed to the bleachers, looking for staff members to direct them to assigned and staggered seats “to ensure all guidelines are followed with fidelity.” The school district asks guests to stay in their seats unless using the restroom or leaving the ceremony. “Respect appropriate distancing with those you meet,” guidelines state.
- The Robertson County School District asks attendees to not stand at the fence or move onto the field after the ceremony, but to go directly to their vehicles. Teachers will help to dismiss families to help maintain social distancing.
- Officials will make an announcement 24 hours before the ceremony if weather “becomes an issue and leads to the rescheduling of an event.”
Here’s when each school’s graduation will be held:
- Springfield High School and RCVS, June 18 at 6 p.m.
- East Robertson High School, June 19 at 6 p.m.
- Jo Byrns High School, June 20 at 10 a.m.
- White House Heritage High School, June 21 at 2 p.m.
- Greenbrier High School, June 22 at 6 p.m.
Sumner County Schools
Each individual school in Sumner County is being tasked with communicating specific plans for its graduation ceremony, and district officials have noted that their “principals and district staff worked diligently to create guidelines for each graduation that protects the health and safety of our community while providing the ability for family and friends to participate in this special occasion.”
At Gallatin High School, for example, seniors will receive four tickets apiece during a graduation practice held early in the day on June 26, according to the school. Officials also noted to “please be mindful” of other guests, and there will be space on the gym floor to accommodate guests in wheelchairs.
Sumner County Schools also plans to partner with Servpro, a Gallatin-based cleanup and restoration franchise, to disinfect venues following each ceremony as “an additional precaution.”
Graduation ceremonies will also be available via live-stream, so those unable to make it in person — because of health or travel difficulties, for example — don't have to miss commencement.
Here’s when each graduation is scheduled:
- White House High School – Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at Long Hollow Baptist
- Gallatin High School – Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m. at Gallatin High
- Hendersonville High School – Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m. at Hendersonville High
- Station Camp High School – Friday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Long Hollow Baptist
- E.B. Wilson Virtual High School – Friday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. at Central Office
- Beech High School – Saturday, June 27, 6 p.m. at Long Hollow Baptist
- Merrol Hyde Magnet School – Saturday, June 27, 7 p.m. at Merrol Hyde Magnet
- Portland High School - Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. at Long Hollow Baptist
- Westmoreland High School - Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. at Westmoreland High
- Middle Technical College High School at Portland – Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.
- at Portland High School
- Middle College High School at Vol State – Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. at Vol State Community College in Caudill Hall
Kelly Fisher can be reached at KPFisher@gannett.com, 615-801-3866 or on Twitter at @KellyPFisher.
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Graduating in 2020: Middle Tennessee districts celebrate, set guidelines amid COVID-19 pandemic - Tennessean
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