People looked at various ways to make the seniors feel like it was special. Parades where teen seniors got to ride around in cars decorated by their family and celebrate the day with the family in the car? Hmmm. Virtual Proms? Hmmmmmmm. I know, a zoom graduation! Oh wait, they always get hacked and information taken. Damn, what should we do?
Well, while parents were thinking, so were the schools, and to be honest it might be the wave of the future if a few bugs could be worked out. Now in 1972, the year I graduated, the parents and family of 1142 students crammed into the Civic Auditorium and the "new" cafe to watch every kid graduate one at a time. For most it was akin to the Bataan Death March. Cafeteria and Auditorium would be about 80 degrees, and humid.
The new graduation is 5 students at a time. They pull up and park in front of the Auditorium and are sent in one family at a time. The family goes to the right of the stage and the student goes to the far left where they wait. Then when signaled they remove their mask and walk across the stage where they are thanked by Mark Walters, the Principle of Lakewood High, then Superintendent Dr. Michael Barnes and School Board Member Ed Favre all in masks and 6 feet back. They pick up a diploma, then turn to their family for a photo. Now this is what is really cool. Most families came with cameras, as in still and video. So each got a beautiful photo and video of their child with diploma, administration, and then out the side for a graduation photo from a real photographer! Back to their car and home. Everything is put in order, the next 5 students arrive and park and it is repeated.
Between each group and/or student depending on whether they touch anything, Mark Walters wipes it all down with alcohol. Safe distances, masks, everyone is safe. Even the groups have 15-20 minutes between them.
I think when the parents look at their photos at the end of the day, it might be the end of mass graduations.
Great work Mark Walters, Michael Barnes and everyone who put this together! Impressive.
So let's look at some photos.
LHS Principle Mark Walters, and Dr. Barnes welcome a graduate.
Sean Wheeler taking photos of Evan Wheeler graduating.
A better photo of the entire set up. Empty but filled with in the hearts and minds of all the graduates.
One of the Wilhemy kids crossing the stage. LHS Principle Mark Walters, Superintendent Michael Barnes, School Board Member Ed Favre.
Parents and family working the cameras. What is nice is there is no hurrying. They could take as long as they wanted and get the good shot.
But...
The big photo is very sobering. What was once filled with proud families celebrating the end of public schooling, sits empty. That's Brian Siftar working the door.
It is estimated that this will take 5 hours a day for at least 4 days. During the entire exercise the love all administrators have for the students shows. This was all about safety, families, safety, kids, good experiences, safety, photos, and safety.
I am very proud of the whole group.
OH and one more...
LHS Principle Mark Walters wiping down the hand rail after a student touched it. That is love and respect.
