We didn't really know what to expect. The letter was emailed to everyone made it sound as if they were draining the event of all fun. Could only wear their Kairos jewelry. Must maintain social distancing at all times. No tossing their caps afterwards. Must leave the moment the ceremony is over.
The reality was more relaxed.
Back in May we were asked to choose between option one and option two for graduation. Option one was a "unique" experience of being filmed walking across the stage, pieced together, and shown on the day graduation was supposed to take place. Option two was an on field graduation before August 4th if the governor allows it (but he likely won't so please chose option one).
Many of us wrote back: option three -- both.
Perhaps recognizing they are dependent upon alumni dollars, they gave us option three. Within a couple of weeks the governor raised the limit to 500 people at an outdoor event. We were told each graduate could have two guests.
We only learned the details on Monday. 9 am. Arrive between 8:15 and 8:45. Will only last for an hour.
I'll admit we went into it with very low expectations.
I've missed hanging out with Ashley's friends' parents, and other parents we have met over the ten years she went to Catholic school. We found her best friend's parents and sat with them. Fully masked. Further apart than at a football game.
I was afraid the speeches would be the same. For the most part, they were, but the salutatorian sneaked in a pitch for people to come see the team play Tuesday night during the Last Dance Tournament. The usually very serious principal cracked a small joke when she said (paraphrasing): "We are gathered for the last time to send off the class of 2020 ... I think."
My best guess was 170 of the 268 graduates took place in the ceremony. So about 500 people total (including guests and staff). New alumni were seated apart from each other. Parents were encouraged to socially distance themselves (but no one was in the stands enforcing it). They finally received their diplomas. It felt as if they were holding them hostage because we wanted another graduation ceremony. A nice touch was they put their picture on the envelope with the diploma further ensuring they would go home with the right diploma (I wondered how they would do that). It was nice they sat in order by last name (unlike the videotaped graduation where it was anyone's guess when they would walk across the stage).
The beautiful weather also helped. It was sunny and in the low 80's. Ashley wished they seated them differently so the seniors were not facing the sun for the entire service. I'll accept some blame for that one -- originally they would have faced the home bleachers and had their backs to the away side. Parents suggested shifting it so everyone had a side view.
Yes, the celebrations have been plentiful. The administration and staff have worked tirelessly to give them yet one more send off. I still wish we could have managed a prom, but hard to do that socially distanced. Maybe Thanksgiving weekend? They just want to see their friends.
As many states have cases flaring up, New Jersey has become a leader in keeping this under control. We had less than 300 new cases again yesterday, a far cry from the 4,000 cases a day at the peak. We still can't eat inside restaurants, but the weather is still nice enough for outdoor dining. Our library is still closed, but they are offering curbside pick-up. We can breathe around others, all while wearing our masks as other states fight to have mask laws.
Some pictures from today.
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