As seniors complete their last week of school, Conant High School has announced its finalized plans for a social-distanced graduation ceremony.
“While it has taken more work, by more people, than any event I can remember, we believe it is the ceremony our senior class deserves,” Conant High School Principal Brett Blanchard wrote in a letter to seniors and their families on May 21.
After multiple teleconference meetings with both seniors and their parents, as well as a district-wide survey, the district announced last week it would hold an in-person ceremony at the Jaffrey Silver Ranch Airpark.
The plan has been approved by the Department of Education, the School Board, and district Superintendent, as well as the Jaffrey Town Manager and Select Board and police and fire officials.
Graduation has officially been set for June 12, at 7 p.m. The order of events for the ceremony is similar to previous graduation events. District guidelines for the event are heavy on safety precautions and social distancing measures, however.
Graduating seniors have been instructed to arrive at the Airpark and hour before the ceremony, int their own vehicles, and to park of the upper airfield. Each graduate can have up to four additional guests, in no more than two vehicles, who will use the east entrance of the airport. Each person attending the ceremony must submit to a temperature check prior to admission, and those with an elevated temperature will still be allowed to attend, but must remain in their vehicle for the entire ceremony. Each person will also be provided a new face mask, or can wear their own.
There will be seating available for those who wish to leave their cars, with chairs set up in advance to accommodate social distancing rules.
The graduates will be seated in front of the Airpark’s 200-foot hanger, with at least six feet of space in all directions with extended aisles between rows, and will wear orange and black face masks to represent Conant’s school colors, which will be worn throughout the ceremony, but may be removed when accepting diplomas on the runway stage. Graduates may decorate their caps, but can not toss them at the end of the ceremony.
A single videographer and photographer will record the ceremony and take photos of graduates receiving their diploma without their masks.
For those who can not watch in person, the ceremony will be streamed and available for the public to watch from home.
In his letter to the families of Conant seniors, Blanchard noted that the plans were subject to any additional restrictions which might be announced by Governor Chris Sununu between now and graduation, but said he believes the event will be able to carry on safely.
“…We are confident this year’s senior class will have the best graduation ceremony allowable,” Blanchard wrote. “Given all they have been through, we owe them this opportunity.”
A rain date for the ceremony has been set at June 13.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.