South River High School Announces Cap And Gown Gala/Diploma Distribution On June 15

Press release from South River High School:

June 3, 2020

Cap and Gown Gala & Diploma Distribution

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Make-Up Day – June 15, 2020

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Since the beginning of the school closure, SRHS had hoped there would come a time when we would be able to celebrate each graduating senior… well, that time has come!

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We have created a wonderful opportunity for each graduating senior to return to SRHS to be individually recognized as a graduate of the Class of 2020. Each graduating senior is invited to attend the South River High School Cap and Gown Gala and Diploma Distribution event, which will begin the day following our Virtual Video Commencement on June 1st.

For those students who were not able to attend their regularly scheduled event: Diploma Gala & Distribution Make-Up Day is June 15, 2020. Contact mlivingston@aacps.org for more information.

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When coming to SRHS for the Cap and Gown Gala and Diploma Distribution, please comply with the protocols outlined below for your personal safety, and the safety of others.

Up to four family members will be able to attend to share their joy and happiness and to honor their proud graduate.

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Days/times for the last name alpha of graduating seniors – click HERE
Los días/tiempos son los siguientes para el apellido por alfabeto

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Protocols for Graduates and Families:

• Graduates will come to SRHS with NO MORE THAN FOUR family members TOTAL, NO exceptions. Graduate arrives to campus in no more than two vehicles per graduate, accompanied by NO more than four (4) family members TOTAL combined for both vehicles, NO exceptions. Example, graduate in vehicle #1 with four family members total – OR – graduate in vehicle #1 with two family members and accompanying vehicle #2 has two family members.
• Graduates are to bring their cap/gown/tassel/stole/cords.
• Family members must wear mask/face covering.
• Graduate must wear a mask/face covering. The graduate may remove the mask/face covering during the taking of photos. All other attendees MUST wear mask/face covering, this includes the Principal (and staff) who will be wearing a mask/face covering.
• Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or whose family members are experiencing symptoms, may NOT attend this event.
• Prior to arrival to campus, the graduate is to write in big, bold print on an 8 ½” x 11” inch piece of white paper their first and last name.
• Upon arrival to campus, place the latter piece of paper on the graduate’s dashboard or on the passenger side window. Paper and marker will NOT be provided for you upon arrival to campus.
• All vehicles participating in the gala are to enter the school complex by way of Stepney’s Lane, and drive through the complex past Central Special to the first Check-In table (SEE MAP). Note: If the graduate has a second vehicle accompanying them, they are to gather in the church lot or Central Elementary lot before entering the line-up towards the back of SRHS in order to assemble prior to entering the line-up so that the vehicles are back-to-back for the same graduate.
• SRHS staff members will direct the graduate’s vehicle(s) to create a single line of vehicles via Stepney’s Lane to the upper bus lot.
• While waiting in the line-up, everyone MUST always remain in the vehicle, until the vehicle reaches the head of the line at the Gym Entrance.
  • Students dropping off music or PE equipment or picking up materials left at school will be directed to enter the road behind CAT-S (SEE MAP) and proceed to the auditorium entrance behind the school. If there are two cars, both cars should travel together to the back of the school. Only the graduate may exit the car and move to the auditorium to drop off or pick up materials. Once finished, the vehicle(s) will drive to the end of the road to re-enter the line-up line.
  • Students not dropping off large items or picking up materials will proceed down the road by the stadium to line up to enter the Upper Bus Lot. (SEE MAP)
• There will be a second check-in stop by the entrance to the bus lot.
• The graduate and family members will be directed to proceed to the distribution and collection tables set up by the Main entrance.
• Graduates should have their bag of school property to return to SRHS ready and the graduate should place their bag on the table at the collection area. Include in the bag all items to be returned to SRHS along with a list of the returned items, labeled with the graduate’s name and student ID number. Also give the graduate’s name to a staff member who will pass out the graduation packet.
• The Graduate and family members will then be directed to the Gym Entrance where the stage is set up.
• Once the graduate’s vehicle reaches the Gym Entrance, staff members will direct the graduate and their family members (no more than four family members per graduate) to exit the graduate’s vehicle(s), with the graduate making their way to the stage located on the Gym Entrance sidewalk area. Graduate is to wear their cap/gown/tassel/stole/cords with the tassel on the left. The graduate may remove their mask/face covering for the photographs.
• Family members are to remain at the sidewalk area located directly next to the graduate’s vehicle, family members may NOT approach the front of the stage.
• Graduate will walk to the side of the stage, whereby they will indicate to the SRHS staff member their (graduate’s) name.
• The graduate’s diploma will then be placed on the table on the stage.
• A SRHS staff member will announce the graduate’s name on the mic/speaker.
• After the graduate’s name is announced, the graduate is to walk up the stage steps to the top of the stage and pick-up their diploma from the table.
• The graduate is to remain on stage, standing in place on the stage for the family and Lifetouch (photographer) to take a picture of the graduate.
• Note: For health/safety guidelines, the Principal will NOT hand the diploma to the graduate, and the Principal will NOT shake the graduate’s hand. The Principal will be standing behind the table on the stage, 6ft. from the graduate wearing a mask/face covering.
• After the graduate receives their diploma and has their picture taken, the graduate is to exit the stage and return immediately to their vehicle.
• After the graduate and accompanying family members assemble back in their vehicle(s), the graduate and family members will immediately exit the campus in their vehicle(s), making way for the next graduate. The graduates and their families will follow the route to exit onto Rt. 214 (see map). Graduates and their family members may NOT gather and may NOT remain on campus.

Please be mindful of these proceedures so that we can accommodate the large number of graduates that will be attending during the same hour/day.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Go Seahawks, the Class of 2020!

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Download Gala Protocols HERE

Spanish Language Translation – HERE

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MAP OF GALA ENTRY/EXIT

This press release was produced by South River High School. The views expressed here are the author’s own.