We hope this message finds you and your family healthy, safe, and strong. We are missing our students and the normal hustle and bustle that spring typically brings to Republic High School! Today we are writing to share some end of year and summer details with you, specific to Republic High School. During this uncertain time we are working hard to create new processes and make decisions that best meet the needs of our students, employees, and community overall. We appreciate your patience in advance as we all navigate these unpredictable times.
RHS Class of 2020 Related Events
Our hearts go out to the class of 2020 as the end of their final year of high school has been so disrupted. Over the course of the COVID-19 closure RHS and district administration have worked hard to keep the interest of the class of 2020 in mind when making decisions. Our hope is that the decisions that have been made and listed below allow this class to continue to create as many end of high school memories as possible while also adhering to social distancing requirements to keep everyone healthy. The information below is an overall summary of plans. More specific details will be shared with RHS students and families as these events draw nearer.
Graduation Events: To ensure all 2020 graduates are honored and celebrated, RHS will host two graduation ceremonies. The first will be a Drive-Through Graduation on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 11:00 a.m. (weather permitting) where families can drive in their vehicle together with their graduate and head to RHS where staff will be waiting (practicing appropriate social distancing) to greet each graduate, parking lot style! Dressed in caps and gowns, 2020 graduates will drive up to a graduation station set-up in front of RHS to receive their diploma from Board of Education members and RHS administrators. Graduates' names will be announced over the PA system in the parking lot, and FREE professional pictures will be taken.
Seniors who participate in this event will have met the graduation requirements for Republic High School.
All district-owned property must be returned to the school district to be able to participate in this event.
Attendance for graduating seniors is voluntary.
Proper social distancing will take place at all times.
Vehicles will not be allowed on property until 11:00 a.m. when the event will begin.
If weather does not allow this event to take place on Saturday, May 9 we will have a makeup date on Tuesday, May 12 beginning at 3:00 p.m. Due to conflicts that might arise on a weekday we would make adjustments to this process.
We have access to a local radio station (1-2 mile radius) that will be used to broadcast the ceremony and get information out in real time to families in their vehicles. RHS Tiger Theatre teacher, David Krudwig, will be emceeing the event over the airwaves. The station number will be shared as this event draws nearer.
We will live stream the event through our RHS Facebook page. Our community partner, Republic Tiger Sports and David Brazeal, will also be livestreaming the event.
Republic High School staff members will be in their vehicles lining the front row parking spaces to cheer on and celebrate our senior students.
To ensure efficient traffic flow, students will be able to come and receive their diploma in the following shifts:
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Last names A-D
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Last names E-K
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Last names L-R
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Last names S-Z
An aerial map will be provided as this date draws nearer. Students will arrive using the Highway ZZ entrance and follow the same driving route we use for student drop-off and pick-up.
When each vehicle arrives in the drop-off/pick-up lane, the senior student will be able to exit their vehicle, walk up to the diploma table, take their diploma, and have their picture taken. Each student will be announced as they are walking to receive their diploma.
The student will then get back into their vehicle and be able to drive over to the soccer field/tennis courts area to have a photo taken with their family members. When this is completed, they will get back into their vehicle and exit the campus using the Republic Road entrance.
In addition to this event, a traditional seated graduation ceremony has been scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at JQH Arena on the MSU campus beginning at 1:30 p.m. Graduation practice for senior students participating in this event will occur the morning of Friday, July 31 at 9:00 a.m. at Republic High School. Students who wish to participate in the seated graduation ceremony will be required to attend graduation practice.
Baccalaureate and Project Graduation events will also take place. Details are still being determined for these events. Questions specific to Project Graduation can be directed to republicclassof2020@gmail.com.
WHY are we planning two graduation ceremonies?
In these uncertain times, we are unable to get a complete picture of what social distancing requirements will look like in the coming months. While we hope to be able to host the traditional graduation ceremony on August 1, it is not guaranteed. Also, many of our 2020 graduates will be unable to attend the traditional planned ceremony on August 1 due to their new college, military, or work responsibilities. The Drive-Through Graduation event gives us an opportunity to celebrate all 2020 graduates while still following social distancing guidelines and will take place prior to new responsibilities beginning for these students.
Senior Awards Night: A celebration of senior awards and scholarships will take place virtually on May 4. A virtual awards ceremony is being created to recognize and announce scholarship and award recipients. This virtual ceremony will be in the form of a video with slides for each student and will be released on Monday, May 4.
Prom: RHS will plan to host a traditional prom on Friday, July 24 as long as social distancing guidelines will allow. RHS administration continues to work with the student prom committee to determine a location and other details of this event. Once determined, they will be shared.
Last Day of Instruction and End of Year Grades
Due to the COVID-19 closure and various logistics the closure has created, the following are the "last days of school" for our students:
Seniors: May 1
Grades 9 - 11: May 13
** Please note that RHS students enrolled in dual credit are continuing through the course as if it were seated. Assignments provided will count toward their final grade.**
Student School Item Drop-Off and Personal Item Pick-Up Plans
Seniors: RHS is developing a system for seniors to drop off and pick up items from school on May 4 and 5. Monday, May 4 senior students last names A-K will be provided with a time to come and drop off district-owned property (Chromebooks, library books, etc.) that was checked out to them, along with being able to pick up any personal items (school supplies, PE locker items, etc.) that might have been left at school. Tuesday, May 5 will be when students last names L-Z will be able to complete this process.
Monday, May 4:
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. seniors last name A-D
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. seniors last name E-K
Tuesday, May 5:
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. seniors last name L-R
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. seniors last name S-Z
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. any senior that needs to return/pickup items
Students in grades 9-11: We are developing a similar process for students in grades 9-11 to both drop off items that belong to school (Chromebooks, library books, etc.) along with pick-up personal items (school supplies, medications, etc.) currently at school. This will begin Thursday, May 14 and carry over into the following week of May 18. Please watch for more communication of specific dates and details.