Lansing-area high schools are finalizing their plans to honor the Class of 2020. On Friday, Holt High School will put on its annual Senior Breakfast. But as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the event will look nothing like it has in the past.
Michael Willard:
In a normal school year, it’s one of the last opportunities for the seniors to all be together before graduation. It’s typically held the Saturday morning prior to graduation. We’re able to give out gift cards; the last school newspaper is all about the seniors. It’s just a chance to honor them one last time; it’s an opportunity to hang out and do some things like that.
Kevin Lavery:
How does a “drive-up” breakfast work?
Willard:
We’ve got about one-quarter of all the seniors scheduled every 15 minutes, alphabetically. We’ve got some parents and staff members; our food services personnel, cooking the food. They’re going to do a boxed breakfast. Students will be able to drive up to the high school where we’ll have some things to acknowledge the students. We’ve got them going to different areas of the school to pick up some academic and athletic awards to have at their graduation parties.
We’ve got some first responders who’ll be there, flashing lights, some teachers around the school to say hi. We’re trying to follow all the guidelines about not holding large group gatherings but still doing something in an appropriate way that keeps people safe.
Lavery:
Looking ahead, Holt has scheduled its commencement ceremony for June 28, and you’re working with a couple of different options.
Willard:
Yes. We’re hopeful that we can hold something semi-normal. Our students and parents would really enjoy an outdoor graduation, but not knowing what that will look like at the end of June, we must worry about backup plans. We’re trying to re-create that in a smaller venue. If we can’t run the option of being outdoors with a large group of people, we would move that to a smaller group. Seniors would be scheduled every few minutes to be in a small space with their family members at one time. We’d keep social distancing guidelines while still allowing students to walk across the stage, get their diploma and a photo. We’re trying to re-create as best we can those opportunities to celebrate our seniors if we might not have the opportunity for everybody to be there and witness it all together.