Agawam, West Side to celebrate in-person graduationsDate: 5/18/2021 AGAWAM/WEST SPRINGFIELD – Staff at West Springfield and Agawam high schools recently announced their 2021 commencement plans that will both take place in person under the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines.
“We are very excited to offer the opportunity for friends and family to support their graduates in person, while following guidelines,” Agawam Superintendent Sheila Hoffman said.
Agawam High School’s graduation will take place on the practice field, adjacent to the front parking lot and tennis court, on June 5 at 2 p.m. with a rain date of June 6 at 2 p.m.
Graduates can have up to six guests and attendees. The school asks for all graduates and guests not to arrive before 1 p.m.
There will be a traffic flow where parents can enter through Cooper Street. Parking attendants will be guiding parents when they are able to head to their seats.
“We are pleased to have the available space with adequate social distancing to offer graduates six guests,” Hoffman said.
Each graduates’ guest will be seated together in predesignated locations as assigned through a random selection process. The class will be able to be seated together.
Graduation will also be projected on a large screen and live streamed on Agawam’s public access cable channel 15.
A professional photographer will be in attendance to take pictures of each senior as they receive their diplomas.
On June 2, Agawam High School will have its Distribution Day where seniors will be given a predetermined window of time to pick up graduation and end of year materials. This will be a drive by event so students will not have to get out of their car for the items provided. Graduation rehearsal will take place at 9 a.m. the next morning at the high school.
“The ceremony will be brief, but we think it will be a special event, people worked really hard to pull it together,” Agawam High School Principal Thomas Schnepp said.
The high school’s graduation team will be sending graduates and their families more detailed information as it becomes available.
West Springfield High School’s graduation will take place June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Clark Field with a rain date of June 6 at 5:30.
As of now, there will be four tickets granted per graduate. Graduates will be sitting together by the stage, with social distancing guidelines in place. Families will be seated on the bleachers behind the graduating class.
The event will be live streamed on West Springfield’s public access cable television channel 15 for those that cannot attend. They are planning on having a large screen and multiple TV screens for ease of viewing.
“Our plan is to follow the graduation guidelines put out by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Family units up to four will be able to sit together and each family unit will be 6 feet away from others. Students will be socially distanced. There will not be a virtual option for graduates but there will be live streaming for family, friends, and community members to view this special day. For WSHS, having graduation at Clark Field is a new experience. Traditionally, we hold this celebration at the Coliseum at the Big E. Unfortunately, we are not able to hold the ceremony there with all of our seniors and their guests due to the restriction on indoor events,” West Springfield High School Principal Patrick Danby said.
Danby stated they are wrapping up final details this week and will be sending out more information as it becomes available.
|
