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Date: 5/11/2021
EASTHAMPTON – Easthampton High School (EHS) is planning to have an outdoor graduation for the class of 2021 on June 4 at 6:30 p.m.
According to William Evans, principal of EHS, the school will conduct the graduation on Daley Field, which is the baseball field adjacent to the high school.
“Our plan is to allow each graduate to bring up to six guests,” said Evans. “Each family unit will have their own area to be in.”
Each one of those areas will have 10-by-10-foot boxes that will be painted on the field to designate socially-distanced areas for guests to sit in. Each one of those boxes will be at least 10 feet away from every other box, according to Evans.
The school also plans on keeping the ceremony shorter than past years. According to Evans, there will not be live music, and the number of speeches will be cut down. The length of each speech will also be decreased to prevent an elongated ceremony.
Evans is asking that families stay in their boxes and hire a professional photographer if they want pictures taken of the graduates when they walk across the stage as students receive their diplomas.
“Students will be getting their diploma by picking it up off of a music stand after I place it on there,” said Evans. “There won’t be a direct hand-off.”
In normal years, seniors usually have the opportunity to attend a cruise and visit High Meadow Resort in North Granby, CT. Both of those events have been cancelled this year, according to Evans. The school will however be hosting a senior awards night as well as a prom. The prom will happen on June 15. Both events will occur on the patio in front of the school.
“We’re definitely excited and looking forward to be able to confer diplomas in a more of a ceremony than what we were able to do last year,” said Evans. “Although it’s still not fully back to 100 percent normal, it is still great that we’re able to do something. We’re very excited for the opportunity to celebrate this group of kids who have been through an enormous amount.”
According to Evans, around 115 seniors will be graduating on June 4.