Dear Parents and Seniors of the Class of 2020,
Late yesterday the Illinois State Board of Education released the following information,
By now, most districts have established routines and processes for sending and receiving academic content, providing meals, and offering social-emotional resources and connections as best you can. But one of the most difficult tasks may lie in the weeks ahead. We have reached the page on our calendars where practically every square held some milestone – awards ceremonies, team banquets, parties, prom, and the biggest milestone of all: graduation.
We need to remember that no matter how devastating it feels to miss these sacred rites of spring, the health and safety of our students, families, and communities must remain our top priority.
Therefore, in-person graduation ceremonies of any kind are not allowed at this time. This directive extends to drive-through graduation ceremonies or events where students come in small groups to the school or another location for a photo or to walk across a stage. The Governor’s extended stay-at-home order prohibits group gatherings. I join you in hoping that events can resume in person sooner rather than later, but that time is not now.
With these guidelines along with our local health department guidelines, we must adjust our plans for our spring traditions again. It seems as if all of our traditions will be different this year. Please read through the following information carefully. Even more details will be coming in the days ahead and we continue to look for ways to celebrate our seniors.
As you know we were planning on having a parade to your house on Friday to deliver yard signs, cap and gowns and a few extra surprises for our Seniors. Unfortunately, guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education and our local health departments prevent us from having the parade.
Tomorrow we are asking that you and/or your student come to the high school circle drive to pick up the items that we were delivering. Students should come to the circle drive either alone or with people that live in the same household as this follows the health department guidelines. Please follow these rules. We cannot have more than one student in a car. We will place the items for seniors in the trunk of your vehicle. Please plan to come through the circle drive tomorrow between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Seniors will be receiving a few gifts tomorrow and we are thankful for a donation that covered these expenses. There are many people in our schools and communities that support our students and we appreciate their generosity.
The exciting news is that tomorrow cap and gowns will be distributed. The saddest news for us to share is that we will only be able to have a virtual celebration. Inside the cap and gown bag will be a letter with instructions outlining the plans for our virtual graduation. Our goal is to have the virtual graduation ready to ‘air’ May 29 at 7 p.m. You will also receive a flash drive with a copy of the ceremony.
Information regarding how to return caps and gowns, and picking up and returning school materials will come next week.
We are heart sick with all of these developments over the last weeks. We had hoped for a different ending to this stretch in our lives. Your disappointment is felt throughout the faculty and staff and communities.
Don’t forget to come through the circle drive at the high school tomorrow between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
#Staystrong
#GoKnights
Mrs. Seegmiller