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Salem High makes plans for virtual commencement

SALEM — Hold on to your tassels, Salem High School seniors — the experience of walking in cap and gown to receive that coveted graduation diploma is happening.

Not traditionally, but virtually, via technology, meaning family members and friends still get to watch the Salem High School Class of 2020 graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. May 24, as scheduled.

“We’re going to make it as traditional as we possibly can and give the kids a memory they can look back on,” Superintendent Sean Kirkland said.

The plan is to individually film each senior walking across the auditorium stage, in cap and gown, during a 15-minute time slot to be scheduled May 11-15. Each student will have their diploma handed to them by their parents or a guardian. A photograph will be taken, just like any other graduation day when a senior receives a diploma.

Speeches by the valedictorian or co-valedictorians and class president will be filmed and Zoom will be used to film a song by the senior choir. Top students will be recognized.

Then everything will be spliced together and the completed virtual graduation ceremony will be uploaded to the Salem City Schools website at salemquakers.k12.oh.us, the Salem City Schools Facebook page and the high school’s Studio 203 YouTube channel for viewing on graduation day, May 24.

Kirkland said students are being notified to show up at the school from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday at the gymnasium entrance for a curbside pickup of their caps and gowns, along with instructions for the virtual graduation.

Normally, board members hand out the diplomas, but with social distancing and stay at home orders, Kirkland thought it might be more meaningful, and safer. to have someone from each student’s household do the honors.

“I think that will be a nice choice,” he said.

The original plan was to set up alternate dates for graduation, the awards assembly and prom — those memorable end-of-year traditions — in hopes that the governor’s edict against large gatherings would be lifted sometime this summer.

After hearing Gov. Mike DeWine speak Monday about continuing distance learning through the end of the year and how the state’s reopening will be gradual, Kirkland said he came to the realization that it was very, very unlikely that they could hold a gathering of 128 graduates and their families.

Setting up dates for events that in all likelihood won’t happen would be another big letdown for students who have already lost a good part of their final year of high school.

“I think our seniors need some type of closure,” Kirkland said.

That was his thinking when he discussed his idea Tuesday morning with the administrative team and then announced his intentions to the rest of the area superintendents during a Zoom meeting Tuesday. He said the other superintendents agreed with the need for closure by seniors.

“Instead of holding out hope, we’re doing it the Quaker way, we’re going to be proactive,” he said.

Kirkland had not talked to any of the students about the unique ceremony they’ll receive, but said “hopefully they’ll understand that we’re doing this for them.”

He said it’s going to take a lot of work and collaboration, but will be well worth it.

“I’m actually kind of excited to see how it turns out,” he said.

This is one of those milestones that’s important to the kids and it’s being taken away from them.

There are a lot of events they’re missing out on, including prom, which had been set for May 1 but has been canceled. They’re also missing spring sports seasons, the spring musical, spring band concerts, a last chance to qualify for state and the list goes on and on.

He said it’s hard not to have empathy for what they’re experiencing. Graduation is one of those goals every kid has starting from kindergarten. Kirkland said to not have that opportunity is “gut-wrenching.”

“To give them something is very important for us,” he said.

The district also plans to put together a video presentation of the annual awards night, using video footage of presenters for the awards and naming the awardees.

Students will be notified ahead of time about their awards. The program won’t be live but will be uploaded to be available at 7 p.m. May 19 on the website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Teacher Mike DeBarr is putting together the videos.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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