Portsmouth High School will be hold an in-person graduation in the school’s main gym on May 23rd.
This, despite Governor Mike DeWine saying that either virtual or drive-up graduation ceremonies were preferred due to the COVID-19 shutdown of the state.
The state does allow in-person ceremonies as long as the following protocols are followed:
Families are called into the auditorium one-by-one (no more than 10 people total including the school administrators), the student walks across the stage, receives a diploma and walks out of the auditorium and back to the car. The next family enters. Attention should be paid to disinfecting surfaces (door handles, hand railings, etc.) that may be repeatedly touched. Also, strict parking management and regulation is needed to prevent congregating in parking lots and outdoor locations. This can be done by appointment only to ensure a smooth process for all.
Graduation Rules
PHS says the ceremony will be May 23 from Noon to 7:30 pm. The school stressed that social distancing guidelines will be in effect. Here’s how it’s all going to work.
- The traditional speeches by administrators, school board officials as well as those from the Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be prerecorded an hour before the ceremony starts.
- All students will be given a scheduled to to arrive. The information will come via the mail.
- Each student will walk through the gym and then cross the state to receive their diploma. Personnel will be there to provide direction for the students.
- Once the student has the diploma in hand, they will exit into the back hallway.
- A professional photographer will be there to take their picture for the senior composite.
- Each student will then exit to the parking lot.
Family Members
Each student may have between 4 to 6 family members present. Families will be allowed in one at a time. Those family members are asked not to stop the procession of students to take photos. They must stay in their designated seats to take pictures or video.
The ceremony will be professionally recorded. Each student will receive a copy once the video is edited.
Once a student completes their part of the graduation, the families are asked to leave the premises as soon as possible in order to prepare for each graduate’s turn.
While in-person ceremonies are allowed,
