In-person graduation Sunday on HHS FB field
Five weeks after the Holyoke High School graduation parade, an in-person graduation ceremony has been planned for Sunday, June 21, at 4 p.m. on the HHS football field.
Additionally, a 2 p.m. baccalaureate service is scheduled at First Baptist Church in Holyoke, with Mike Brown, pastor at First Christian Church, giving the message.
Due to COVID-19 concerns and gathering limitations, the traditional graduation ceremony was not held as originally planned on May 17. Instead, a parade was organized for community members to drive by graduates’ homes.
Promising some sort of in-person program when restrictions lifted, the school administration was pleased to receive approval from the Northeast Colorado Health Department to be able to celebrate the Class of 2020 on June 21.
A Zoom meeting was held with graduates and their parents June 11 to discuss some of the logistics within the framework of the guidelines.
Holyoke JR/SR High counselor Angela Powell said they will try to keep the ceremony short, probably around an hour in length.
Powell said they hope that all 45 graduates will plan to participate in the in-person graduation. As part of the program, valedictory addresses will be given, and each graduate will be recognized.
Graduates will be seated in chairs on the football field facing the west bleachers, and each graduate will be allowed up to 10 guests to sit on that level, whether it’s on the field or the track.
Others attending the graduation will be seated in the west bleachers that will be sectioned off to observe social distancing and Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
Parking for the elderly, especially family members of the graduates, will be sectioned off on the west side of the football field as well. It was emphasized that this is primarily reserved for family members.
Those attending the ceremony are asked to enter on the north end of the football field. Gates at the main entrance on the northwest corner as well as the entrance off the student parking lot on the northeast corner will both be open.
It is requested that visitors not use the south gates, as they will be reserved for use by potential vehicles of family members for special parking.
Following the ceremony, each graduate will have a half table to greet guests. These tables will be set up on the north end of the fenced-in area of the football field.
While there will not be an official reception line, this will be the best place for guests to offer their well wishes to individual graduates.