So my district decided to do the outside graduations

[dsc]

Supposedly we are going to be 6 feet apart as will the parents. Kids will get 2 tickets, waivers will be signed by guests and grads. As a senior HR teacher I will be expected to be there. The thing is as a gay man who lived through the HIV epidemic I am more aware of and maybe even hyper aware of the risks associated with this whole plan. I admit to being torn. I am probably not in the high risk category but I am adjacent to it. (52, quite overweight, sleep apnea, but otherwise healthy). Details will be forthcoming but I would usually be responsible for lining up my HR and making sure they were compliant with dress code etc. Honestly, I want to go. I have been with my HR for 3 years, taught about 1/2 to 2/3 of the senior class math. I also advise the gay straight alliance and know many through that. But there is that back of the mind fear. I know that people won't social distance and will not wear masks like they should. I hate being in this position. A quarantine would be very difficult for me. I live alone, no real delivery services. I would have to do curb side for pretty much everything for that quarantine. At least I live in a neighborhood where I can socially distance with ease so I could walk my dog.

I hate being in this position. I get that parents and students wanted a real graduation. But we had a good plan. Well it is what it is. I won't lie to get a medical note, and likely can't get one without doing so. I am trying to decide if a facial shield would be overkill.

[BannonsLiver]

1. We're scheduled to attend an outdoor graduation on Aug 1

It will be hotter than hell. I’m sure some of our resident Holiday Inn Express epidemiologists will disagree, but I think you’d probably be okay without the face shield.

[dsc]

2. we hold ours very early in the morning due to heat

it will be June not sure of which day yet.

[dsc]

3. I hope that is in a northern state

I would die if mine were 1 Aug.

[BannonsLiver]

5. It's not, so it will be boiling, even in the evening

Incidentally, I’m not sure how big your school is but it might be possible for you to attend and manage some social distancing. For example, if the event is held at a football stadium the crowd will either be seated on the field or in the bleachers. Either way you should be able to stand on the periphery away from the main crowd. This would work in any setting, really. Doesn’t have to be an athletic field.

Where I guess it gets tricky is I’m sure you’ll want to say hello to some of your students. That’s where the mask comes in. If there’s any kind of breeze going that would also help. I would do what you’ve done which is to think it through, how you would handle various scenarios etc. Be cautious, of course, but don’t let alarmists run your life.

[dsc]

10. Oh it will be broiling

heck ours will likely be as well though not August broiling. I am glad I will be on the field and not on gate or parking lot duty so that I can control the amount of contact I will be having.

[rainin]

4. It's disappointing you're required to lie to decline

Nevertheless, I would probably stay home, even if it meant I had to "lie". If I attended, I wouldn't go without a N95 and safety glasses (a faceshield would be better if you have it). Not ideal IMO. Unless others are masking, I'd be worried I would cause a negative disruption by wearing so much protective gear, so I would stay home.

If you've got more courage than me, then wear full PPE, but don't risk your life. Younger people than you have died. People with no health issues like excess weight or sleep apnea have died. One event, no matter how special, isn't worth your life.

Stay safe

[onecaliberal]

6. My daughter graduated from high school today. It was called a stage experience.

It was held in a performing arts theater. The way it worked was by appointment. We were the first ones in today. They called her name, she walked across the stage. Her principal was standing about 12 feet away from the center area. He placed the diploma on the table and she picked it up. She did her tassel change and we took some nice photos. Only 4 people were allowed in with the graduates. All four of us have been quarantined together. My daughter was able to get the closure of her high school experience. She was excited, we were excited too. It’s been so hard lately, this was something good in the middle of so much terrible.

[dsc]

7. we had a plan that would have had the walk and tassel plus the entire class watching

but the school board's lawyer found a loophole in the EO that established guidelines so we are now going to exploit it. Ironically it will let us have fewer guests per student under the new way than the old way did. What yours did was our plan B of having small ceremonies ours would have been 6 grads with 4 guests each plus the principal.

[onecaliberal]

8. I'm so glad they didn't put my kid in the predicament of not attending her own graduation.

My husband is immunocompromised so there is no chance she could of gone and exposed him.
It was 1 graduate 4 guests in the theater at a time. it was perfect.

[dsc]

11. Our first plan was to do a parade with grad and 3 others in cars

then at mall on jumbo trons have the speeches given live, then in small groups 6 feet apart they would walk across the stage and get diploma. It would have worked well and let people not be exposed. Sadly I know two of my students won't be able to do this for reasons similar to yours.

[brooklynite]

9. My School got special permission from the authorities in Rome...

Each student (with parents only) can enter the school at a scheduled time, meet with the school head and Dean in the chapel (meeting room), hear comments about his/her performance and pick up a diploma, then exit to walk through the school, out a side door and around the campus.

[CRK7376]

12. My high school is doing a Drive by

Seniors are allowed 2 carloads of family/friends to drive around school parking lot, stop at the stage walk across individually shake or bump principals hand/elbow, parents allowed to take pictures then load back into cars and exit parking lot. It's my understanding that later this summer, if NC opens up further, that the kids will get a better graduation... Lots of the seniors will be scattered by then some into the military etc...Luckily I didn't have a homeroom this year so no dealing with that issue, and didn't have to monitor the prom this year....I feel bad for the kids with missing a real awards day, prom or graduation.