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Letter #5 to the Class of 2020 - Graduation Ceremony

May 19, 2020 -- Dear Class of 2020,

We have great news to report! Our plan to have each graduate walk across the stage and receive their diploma at Heights High has been approved by the Department of Health.

See the schedule for when you are to come to the high school for the commencement ceremony. 

Times have been allotted to comply with social distancing and to limit the number of individuals in a space to ten. It is imperative that these guidelines be followed to keep everyone safe and in compliance. The schedule is from Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12 so you have time to make arrangements to include family members. 

PLEASE NOTE: In order for students to participate in the ceremony, they must meet all graduation requirements.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PROCEDURE

  • Class of 2020 graduates, staff, and family members must wear masks to the event. A photographer is available to capture a cap and gown photo. Graduates may remove their masks for photographs.
  • Upon entrance to the school, everyone will be asked health check questions. Any persons indicating that they are not feeling well will be excluded from entering the facility.
  • Each senior family will arrive in 15-minute increments of one another. Times have been assigned alphabetically. Please be on time so the process runs smoothly for all families. You must attend at the designated time as we will be recording for the ceremony in alphabetical order. 
  • Students and families will remain in their vehicles by the main entrance parking lot until directed by the security officer.
  • We ask that families place a sign with their student’s name in the front window of the car to assist staff with check-in procedures.  
  • Seniors should wear their caps and gowns.
  • Families (no more than four family members) are asked to enter the building through the parking lot entrance at the direction of staff at their assigned time.
  • Heights staff will be positioned in designated areas to assist the families in the auditorium.
  • The student will walk across the stage to receive his or her Heights High School diploma.
  • Families will stand in the auditorium. If there is a family member who may need to sit, the seating will be disinfected after each family exits the auditorium.
  • Each student will be video recorded. Families are welcome to take pictures as their student walks across the stage.
  • Families will exit out the front door of the high school and return to their vehicle to ensure we adhere to the regulations established by the State for social gatherings.

    A video will be produced that will include the entire ceremony: speeches, graduates, and music. This will be placed on YouTube with a target date of June 23, 2020. 

    CAP DECORATIONS

    The Class of 2020 has not been able to have the same experience as other graduating classes due to COVID-19. Therefore, the Administration has approved the senior class request to decorate their caps for the ceremony. However, there are guidelines that must be followed. We have no additional caps to provide if the decorations are not appropriate or if the cap is damaged.

  • Only the flat, top area of the mortarboard may be decorated. There may be nothing hanging down from any of the sides of the cap.
  • It cannot contain any advertisement, symbols, abbreviations, initials, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that: refer to drugs or controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons, affiliation with gangs, anything of a sexual nature or which threatens the safety and welfare of any person.
  • It cannot be obscene, profane, vulgar, or lewd.
  • It cannot include numbers other than the graduation year.
  • It cannot make noise. No bells, horns, or anything that makes noise.

The administration will reserve the right to disallow anything that is not considered appropriate for the commencement ceremony.

FEES

Please check your fees on Infinite Campus. All fees must be paid online through Infinite Campus. Fees for overdue library books will be removed once the books are returned. You must return your Chromebooks by May 28 to avoid an obligation (fee).


If your fees are not paid and you have met your graduation requirements, you will still be allowed to participate in the ceremony. However, you will not receive your diploma and your transcript will not be released until fees are paid.