ARCOLA JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation 2020
July 25, 2020 - 7:00 p.m.
Guidelines for Graduates and Guest for Parking and Seating
Dear 2020 Graduates and Families:
I am very excited to share in the graduation celebration with the Class of 2020 next Saturday, July 25. The end of the school year was certainly not what any of us expected, but I know this final celebration will be a special memory for the graduates as they start the next chapter of their lives.
In order to comply with the current state guidelines, there will be several expectations that must be followed in order to make the graduation ceremony run smoothly. Please read over the following guidelines concerning details about parking, seating, and expectations during the ceremony for both graduates and guests. Enclosed with this letter is also a map of the parking and seating locations, along with tickets for each of the guests. Please remember that only guests who have a valid ticket will be allowed on school property.
2020 Graduate Expectations:
Each graduate and Junior Marshal should arrive at 6:30 p.m. and park on the west side of the school near the elementary playground. Each graduate must remain inside of the vehicle until released by a faculty member to enter the JH gym.
Each graduate and Junior Marshal MUST wear a mask to enter the building.
Parents will NOT be allowed to enter the JH gym with the graduates. All family pictures should be taken at home prior to the ceremony.
Once inside the JH gym, graduates will sit on the bleachers spaced 6 feet apart. Masks must be worn inside the building at all times. Graduates will NOT be allowed to take any small group pictures. All pictures should be taken at home.
Attire for graduation ceremony:
Cap/Tassel, gown, stole, and honorary cords
Students may choose to wear either dress clothes or casual clothes under their cap and gown.
Girls may NOT wear high heels since graduates will be walking on the track. Please wear either flat sandals/shoes or wedge-type shoes.
Cell phones will remain in the JH gym during the ceremony. The doors to the JH gym will be locked.
Faculty will check to ensure that each graduate does not have any item on their person which could cause a disruption to the ceremony.
At 7:00 p.m., graduates and Junior Marshals will be escorted to the football stadium bleachers to the sound of Pomp and Circumstance.
After the ceremony is over, graduates will be escorted back to the JH gym to drop off their gowns and pick up cell phones.
All graduates will exit the JH gym on the west side and leave the parking lot by the Diamond Street exit near the grade school. Students will not be allowed to congregate outside after the ceremony.
A practice will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24. All graduates should meet on the bleachers to the football field. Please bring a mask.
Guests Expectations:
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. All guests MUST remain in their cars until gates open.
A ticket will be required for admittance to the ceremony. Any spectator without a ticket will NOT be allowed to remain on school grounds.
All guests will be randomly assigned a certain location to sit during the ceremony, a place to park, and a gate to enter. Please refer to the enclosed map for locations or click here: Event Map
Seating Sections | Parking Locations | Gate Entrances |
Section A | North end of student parking | Main entrance to track -north west side |
Section B | South end of student parking | Concession stand entrance |
Section C | Northeast lawn of JFL field | Northeast entrance by long jump pit |
Section D | Southeast lawn of JFL field | JFL building entrance |
Each group of family members must remain 6 feet away from any other guests before, during, or after the ceremony.
All guests will be seated on the football field, with the graduates seated in the stadium bleachers. All seating sections will have no more than 50 guests in each section and each group will be 30 feet apart. Each section of 4 chairs will be spaced 6 feet away from other chairs in the section.
All guests will be asked to remain seated until the ceremony is over. Two faculty members will be monitoring each group of guests. If there is a need to use the restroom prior to the beginning of the ceremony, the faculty member will direct the way.
Once the ceremony begins, we ask that guests remain seated until the ceremony is over. Faculty members will indicate when each group of guests is allowed to leave the field.
If possible, please leave small children at home.
During the ceremony, family members will NOT be allowed to come forward to take pictures. An Arcola faculty member will be taking pictures of each graduate as they receive their diploma. Those pictures will be made available on social media for parents to download.
Other information:
The ceremony will be aired on Facebook Live for other family members to watch who are not able to attend.
The virtual graduation ceremony created by Kris Bott will be released on social media following the July 25th ceremony.
With everyone’s cooperation, we hope that the 2020 Graduation Ceremony will be a special event in the lives of these young people.
As always, please continue to be safe and practice social distancing!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sigrist