GAINESVILLE – The Hall County Board of Education gave unanimous approval tonight to a schedule for high school graduation exercises. Included in the schedule is a planned informal on-campus weekend later in the summer for graduating seniors to say their goodbyes to both classmates and school staff.
School officials caution that the scheduled events are subject to change that may be necessitated by COVID-19 precautions, and that at this time specific details of each graduation ceremony are still in the planning stage.
In a media release Superintendent Will Schofield said, “Because each high school and community are unique, it is important to remember that graduation plans throughout the district may have some variation. Although our current situation prevents traditional graduation ceremonies, every effort is being made by our high schools to provide a ceremony that will be special for the graduates of 2020.”
Schofield said times for each of the commencement activities have not been determined. “In terms of the actual celebrations they are still a work in progress.”
The approved schedule is as follows:
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Cherokee Bluff High School:May 23, 2020
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Chestatee High School:May 21, 2020
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East Hall High School:May 22, 2020
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Flowery Branch High School:May 22, 2020
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Johnson High School:May 23, 2020
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Lanier College and Career Academy: May 27, 2020
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North Hall High School: May 22, 2020
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West Hall High School:May 23, 2020
Schofield told school board members Monday evening, “Schools have had a lot of input in how to best honor this Class of 2020 during these unprecedented times. They have been reaching out to their Seniors.”
Schofield said the opportunity for “last-goodbyes” will most likely not be available at the graduation ceremonies in May, but plans to provide an opportunity for the graduates to say goodbye a couple of months later are in the works.
“Schools have all been asked to save the weekend of July 17-18 for Senior Celebrations at each of the schools,” Schofield explained. “So whether a school and their Seniors decide that they want to get a DJ and throw a party, whether they want to grill-out and spend time together, it will be up to those schools; we do believe that that’s important.”
“That certainly will be pending that we have a situation with COVID that allows that,” he added.
Suzanne Jarrard, Director of Secondary Education for the district, said, “I will say that the few students that I’ve had an opportunity to speak to are already extremely excited about just having ‘something’, and when I have mentioned some of the ideas their minds begin to get going, too.”
“As we move forward,” Jarrard added, “and we continue talking to Seniors, I know that the details are going to be even more exciting; the are young and creative and I am looking forward to what they are going to come up with.”
In an added effort to honor the Class of 2020 the school board authorized rental of several digital billboards in the county for displaying a tribute to the graduating class.
(The board approved the designs above for a month-long display on those billboards beginning May 10th.)
