There will be high school graduations in Marion County after all despite the rest of the school year being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All four county high schools announced plans this week. Ceremonies are being pushed back to the summer in most cases but with traditional commencement still being held while practicing social distancing guidelines.
Columbia High School will be holding its commencement ceremony Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. at Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium, pending school board approval.
Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris said there will be safety measures in place, namely assigning each family a 10-foot area in the stands and having each family area separated by six feet. Students on the field will also be separated by at least six feet.
“It will be a traditional ceremony outside,” he said.
The Marion County School District’s plan for graduation is twofold, according to Superintendent Wendy Bracey. It’s called “celebrate and graduate.”
The original date, May 22, that was set for graduation will now be reserved for a senior celebration with several big surprises, Bracey said.
For the graduation, the county district has set two dates in case the first one needs to be delayed. Like Columbia, the first date picked will be June 26, and the backup date is July 24.
Bracey said the district will follow CDC guidelines on social distancing for each event. It is still finalizing particular details with discussions with parents.
“We are beyond excited to celebrate our seniors because they deserve it,” Bracey said. “Every child deserves to be celebrated for graduation.”
Columbia Academy has tentative plans to hold its commencement ceremony Saturday, May 30 in CA’s Fine Arts Building. Headmaster Angie Burkett said having it on the football field was considered, but a plan was able to be devised to follow social distancing guidelines in the Fine Arts Building.
“We are limiting graduates to just family members and no outside guests. With that we can space them eight feet apart,” she said. “That’s what we’re shooting for unless the guidelines that are in place then don’t allow us to have a gathering of more than 10 people.”
If it cannot be held on May 30, the second option for CA would be Saturday, June 13.
“We’re hoping that it will work out for sure for the seniors,” Burkett said.
Mississippi’s current safer-at-home order extends until May 11.
Pictured Above: West Marion’s 2019 graduating class tosses its caps into the air at the end of its commencement ceremony. Although school is out, each school in Marion County now has graduation plans. | File photo by Joshua Campbell
