Plans are put in place for modified LCC graduation ceremonies

LAUREL — The LCC Class of 2020 will finally get the send-off they deserve, but this year’s graduation ceremony will look quite a bit different than those of the past.

Graduation ceremonies are slated for Saturday, July 11 at 2 p.m. The event was originally planned for May, but had to be pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Before plans for their ceremony could be announced to the public, they first had to be approved by the Public Health Department and school administrators.

“Our school district has developed the following protocols and procedures to support celebrating in the safest manner possible and promotes the health and well being of all,” LCC High School Principal Ken Swanson said.

Seating, doors, restrooms, and common surfaces will be sanitized using CDC recommended cleaning/sanitizing practices before and after the graduation ceremony and water fountains will be closed to public use.

LCC School encourages those who are sick or at health risk to stay home and not attend the in-person ceremony, Swanson said.

“We must also discourage large graduation parties in our communities associated with private post-graduation gatherings or celebrations,” he said.

Under the current state-mandated guidelines, LCC is allowed to use 50 percent of the capacity of the gym for the ceremony. The gym capacity is normally 1600 which allows for up to 800 people to attend under the restrictions.

Attendance will be restricted to:

• Graduates (26)

• Jr Class Attendants (2)

• School Administration (4)

• LCC Board of Education (9)

• LCC HS Faculty, Staff (no family) (26)

• Sophomore Class Ushers (4)

• Laurel Advocate Photographer (1)

• Family of the graduates (728)

• Each senior will be allowed 28 family members in attendance.

Tickets will be issued for each family group. No one will be admitted without a ticket. Tickets will be available for students/families to pick up from the LCC Central Office starting Monday, July 6. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Family members will be instructed to display their entry tickets to the usher prior to placing the tickets in a designated receptacle.

Attendees will be seated in family groups no larger than 8 individuals per group in the main gym. Each family group will be designated a space observing 6’ of social distancing between family groups.

Family group seating areas will be designated in available floor space or bleacher seating. Seating areas will be determined by random draw.

A designated area will be outlined on the floor in an area allowing for photos of seniors as they enter during the processional.

A separate designated area will be outlined in front of the stage to allow for photographs of graduates receiving their diplomas.

Individuals taking photos outside of their designated family seating area will only be allowed to do so from these two designated areas.

For those unable to attend graduation in person, the ceremony will be streamed on the LCC Striv Channel - ​https://striv.tv/channel/laurel-concord-coleridge/

A complete list of the guidelines for this year’s graduation are on page two of this week’s Advocate.