CMS Eighth-Graders Will Receive Diplomas In Family Vehicles

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Central Middle School’s Class of 2020, who, like students at schools across the nation, got gypped out of a traditional graduation by a pandemic will be able to receive their diplomas in their family vehicles beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. Students will wear their caps and gowns and families will also have the opportunity to take photos of their proud graduates in front of the school.

“We encourage our parents to make this a complete family and village event: decorate your cars in green and gold; make posters and banners with your eighth grader’s name and picture on them; play some fun summer music really loud; honk your horn and cheer for your graduate.”

Students should arrive during the times outlined below:

Northeast Quadrant: 4-5 p.m.
Northwest Quadrant: 5-6 p.m.
Southeast Quadrant: 6-7 p.m.
Southwest Quadrant: 7-8 p.m.

If you are not sure what quadrant you live in, please contact Holly Trojanowski at htrojanowski@d124.org.

Over the past three weeks CMS administrators and teachers have surprised the soon-to-be graduates with lawn signs, distributed caps and gowns following social distancing protocols, and honored eighth-graders’ scholastic and co-curricular achievements across all of D124’s social media platforms.

The staff and administration has also been planning a virtual commencement set for May 28 for several weeks.

In an effort to maintain current IDPH restriction guidelines, all participating families are asked to follow these guidelines:

• Cars will line up in front of the school on Sawyer Avenue and continue down 94th Street.
• Each family may have only one car in the celebration.
• Students and families will exit their car one at a time.
• We will have balloons and a backdrop at the front entrance of CMS to take pictures.
• Students will receive their diplomas and a surprise from the CMS staff.
• In order to give all graduates a chance to have their moment, families will have approximately two minutes to take pictures and return to their cars.