- Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
- Graduation plan 2020
Graduation Ceremony 2020
-
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Dear Shawsheen Seniors and Families,
Last week we informed you that graduation ceremonies would take place over the course of three evenings, June 16, 17, & 18, 2020. We have worked closely with Billerica’s Director of Public Health, Kristel Bennett to finalize graduation plans that maximize everyone’s health and safety, and are excited to share that information with you today.
In forming these plans we took into consideration feedback from the Class of 2020 and guidance from Commissioner Riley from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. Although a significant percentage of students were interested in holding off until July or August, many of our students joining the military and attending college would be unable to attend a ceremony later in the summer. For this reason, we have elected to keep the ceremony in June. Per guidance from Commissioner Riley, ceremonies held in June must be virtual or car-based ceremonies. Seniors were emphatically against a virtual ceremony, and they were interested in smaller shop-based ceremonies if a traditional graduation was not possible. In response to this, we will be having individual, car-based ceremonies for each shop. These ceremonies will take place over the course of three days, July 16, 17, & 18 with rain dates on June 19, 22, & 24. Ceremonies will be held according to the schedule below:
Tuesday, June 16
Wednesday, June 17
Thursday, June 18
Rain Date:
Friday, June 19
Monday, June 22
Wednesday, June 24
4:30pm
Graphics
Med Lab
Business Tech
5:00pm
DVC
Electrical
Health Assisting
5:30pm
Metal Fab
Machine
Cosmetology
6:00pm
HVAC
ISSN/PW
Autobody
6:30pm
Plumbing
Masonry
Dental
7:00pm
Culinary
Electronics
Carpentry
7:30pm
Drafting
Automotive
The ceremonies will take place in the front parking lot of the school. One vehicle will be allowed per student. Students from each shop will cross the stage one at a time to receive their diplomas and take a photograph. Cars will be required to arrive 20 minutes prior to their scheduled ceremony times to ensure each ceremony starts on time. Please read carefully through the logistics below to ensure you are able to participate in the events.- Covid-19 Safety Measures:
- FACE MASKS: Aside from the Principal (who will be announcing names of graduates) all staff members, guests, and students will be required to wear masks at all times during the ceremonies. Graduates may remove masks while posing on the stage for photos, but must put them back on before exiting the stage;
- HAND SANITIZER/WIPES: Hand sanitizer and/or wipes will be provided to graduates before they cross the stage, at the diploma-cover station with the Interim-Superintendent-Director, and at each of the tables where graduates will report to receive their scholarships, awards, diplomas, and senior files;
- SICK/SYMPTOMATIC: Any staff member, guest, or graduate who is feeling sick, is showing signs or symptoms of Covid-19, or has come into contact with a confirmed case is NOT allowed to attend;
- BATHROOMS: Bathrooms will not be open to graduates or their guests.
- Overview of logistics for the ceremonies:
- Cars for the first ceremony of each evening will report directly to the front parking lot by 4:15pm;
- Cars for each ceremony following will be required to arrive 20 minutes early and pull into the rear parking lot from the Cook Street entrance (near the Automotive Shop);
- One car per student will be allowed to park in designated spots in front of the school, in three off-set rows (with all cars facing the exit of the front lot) so that guests can safely stand outside of their vehicles to take photos of their graduates (without being blocked by other vehicles). Guests may not approach the stage to take photos;
- Students will step out of their cars and line up next to the stage at marked intervals along the sidewalk to the right of the stage (when facing the school) and will progress through this line as students are called up to the stage;
- Students will be called up onto the stage to receive their diplomas and pose for a photo;
- After crossing the stage students will immediately put on their masks and proceed to the assigned table (at the end of another line to the right of the stage marked at 6-foot intervals) to receive their packages containing scholarships, awards, diplomas, and senior files.
- Graduates will report immediately to their vehicles after receiving their materials and must stand outside of their vehicles (they cannot congregate with guests from other vehicles);
- After the last student from a shop crosses the stage, students will be instructed to turn their tassels and then everyone must return to their vehicles and exit the parking lot immediately;
We will be recording student speeches and the individual shop ceremonies to create a graduation video that will be released in the weeks following the graduation ceremonies. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2020 next week!
Sincerely,
Melanie Hagman
Interim Superintendent-DirectorJessica Cook
Principal - Covid-19 Safety Measures: