2020 Graduation Ceremony Update
General Guidance for Audience Participants
Lauderdale County Schools is excited to be offering an "in person" experience for the Class of 2020. We are proud of our graduates and want them to be able to share this special moment with their selected guests and classmates. Congratulations Class of 2020 for your accomplishments.
As we prepare for these events at each school, it is our goal to insure the safety of participants so please make sure to follow the guidance below. Please note that each guest is participating at their own calculated risk. It is important for everyone’s well-being to follow the procedures that are set for participation at each school. Below, you will find general guidelines as well as those specific to each high school.
General procedures given for audience participants - We ask that all invited attendees consider others by adhering to social distance guidelines and other procedures noted below:
- Sit on taped/marked areas of the bleachers only.
- 4 guest tickets will be allowed for each graduate.
- We ask that you please consider others and wear the masks provided to each graduate.
- Groups of 4 attendees for each graduate may sit closely together on the marked areas. Please do not sit in areas designated for spacing.
- Only students and designated staff members will be allowed on the field at any time. Arrive at the stadium no earlier than 45 minutes prior to the beginning time of the ceremony.
- Please avoid closely congregating and infringing on the space of others.
- Once the ceremony ends, attendees will be encouraged to exit back to their automobiles without congregating.
- Please plan to take family pictures off site. In addition to a live video stream (details rebased soon on live video options), schools will video and take pictures of graduates receiving their diploma for upload at a later time. In the event the live video stream fails, a back up recording will be available at a later date.
Procedures Specific to Ripley High Guests
- Each graduate will receive 4 guest tickets for their specific graduation.
- Last Names A-I - 5:00pm
- Last Names J-Z - 8:00pm
- Guests will park in Gym parking lot. (If you have a guest with a disability please contact the school in advance for parking information. A handicap tag or permit must be presented to enter gate for special parking.)
- Only cars presenting tickets provided to graduates will be allowed in the Gym parking lot.
- Arrive at the stadium no earlier than 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
- Guests must present ticket to enter stadium.
- Guests sit on taped/marked areas of the bleachers only.
- Masks will be provided for each guest. Please consider others and wear the masks provided to each graduate.
- Groups of 4 attendees for each graduate may sit closely together on the marked areas. Please do not sit in areas designated for spacing.
- Guests must remain in stands at all times. Only students and designated staff members will be allowed on the field at any time. The graduates will participate in a recessional and audience members will be dismissed once students have exited the field.
- Bathrooms will be available at the concession stand and the field house.
- Please avoid closely congregating and infringing on the space of others.
- After the graduates have left the field, guests will be released to the gym parking lot. (Please plan for taking photos off campus)
- In addition to the live video stream, the school will video and take pictures of graduates receiving their diploma. This will be available for upload at a later time.
- Graduates will meet their family in the gym parking lot after picking up diploma and returning gown.
- We ask that guests and students be out of the parking lot no later than 6:45pm for the first ceremony and immediately following the second ceremony.
- Please note that each guest is participating at their own calculated risk.
Procedures Specific to Halls High Guests
- The following instructions will be included in the packet that graduates receive when they pick up their caps and gowns:
- EVERY GUEST MUST HAVE A TICKET TO BE ALLOWED ON CAMPUS. The tickets must be shown as vehicles enter the school parking lot.
- Guests may begin arriving at 6:15.
- Vehicles enter the campus using the driveway behind Halls Junior High – where you will have to show your tickets.
- Once you turn into the parking lot, staff will be there to direct you where to park.
- Once you have parked your vehicle, staff will direct you to the gate to enter the stadium. You will turn in your ticket to the staff member at the gate.
- Once you enter the stadium, you will make your way to the bleachers and find a marked seating area.
- Seating sections have been marked off to allow for social distancing.
- If you and your family choose to sit on the side of the stadium with the metal bleachers, your family will need to sit together in an area on the bleachers that has been marked off by a piece of tape. Seating will not be allowed where there is no tape – this will allow for safe social distancing.
- If you and your family choose to sit on the side of the stadium with the concrete bleachers, your family will need to sit together in an area on the bleachers that has been marked off with spray paint. Seating on this side of the stadium will not be allowed where there is no spray paint – this will allow for safe social distancing.
- The graduates will participate in a recessional and audience members will be dismissed once students have exited the field. At this time we ask that you make your way to exits.
- After the ceremony, all campus gates will be opened to allow for the campus to be cleared quickly after graduation.
- For the safety of everyone, there will be no congregating allowed and family photos should be taken off site.
During these unprecedented times, we thank you for your patience, cooperation and consideration. We want to honor our graduates while staying within safety guidelines to protect our students, staff members, and guests. Thank you for adhering to these important guidelines!