CHARLOTTE COUNTY (WSNN) – Seniors in Charlotte County will be capping off their education after all.
“These kids who many of them were born on 9/11, now their graduation, and they faced a hurricane here; they’re going to be known as the most resilient generation,” Charlotte County Public Schools Liaison, Michael Riley, said.
Thirteen years of school comes down to a final moment… graduation.
The coronavirus postponed graduations, but that’s not stopping Charlotte County School officials from honoring its seniors.
There are two options. Plan A is to hold a live graduation with students spread across football fields.
Riley says the graduates will sit six-feet apart and stand in line, three yards a part.
“We don’t want them close. We know they’re excited, but we’re hoping that they’ll be excited that they get to walk if this works,” Riley said.
Each graduate will have two tickets for family members. And they will sit in taped sections on the bleachers.
“The live graduation, it’ll be streamed to accommodate family members and friends due to our minimum tickets allow,” Riley said.
Riley says, if the CDC and the State don’t relax large group restrictions, they will resort to Plan B: a virtual ceremony.
“There’s going to be a student speech, principal’s remarks, presentation of the class by the principal, the superintendent acceptance of the class, every senior’s name will be announced and the ceremonial moving of the hassles,” Riley said.
The virtual ceremony will be available to students and family.
And if they do Plan B, Riley says the schools plan to invite the students back during homecoming week to honor them.
While graduation plans have been modified, the Suncoast is still making efforts to cap off seniors’ accomplishments.
Charlotte County Schools are honoring seniors through yard signs, individual instagram posts, and Adopt a senior program, among other things.
“It’s been a community effort for these children and we want them to know how important it is for us in Charlotte County as much as it is for them,” Riley said.
MORE DETAILS BELOW:
Plan A: Live Graduation Ceremonies
A postponement date for each high school graduation ceremony is set for the following dates :
- Port Charlotte High School on PCHS Football Field, July 14 at 9:00am
- Charlotte Harbor Center at CPAC, July 14 at 6:00pm
- Academy on PCHS Field July 15 at 9:00am
- Charlotte Virtual High School at CPAC, July 15 at 6:00pm
- Charlotte High School on CHS Football Field, July 16 at 9:00am
- Lemon Bay High School on LBHS Football Field, July 17 at 9:00am
- July 18 will be used as a rain date for Live Graduation Ceremonies.
Plan B: Virtual Graduation Ceremonies
The virtual gradation will be sent to families on the day of the scheduled postponed graduation for each high school. It will include:
- A Student Speech
- Principal Remarks
- Presentation of the Class by Principal
- Superintendent Acceptance of Class
- Every Seniors Name Will Be Announced
- Ceremonial Move of Tassel