Senior Class Culture and Traditions
Dear Parents:
Below is the message we sent to your senior student. Please check-in with him/her to discuss the contents of this message per below.
Class of 2020:
As you know, prom and graduation are among the events that may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we greatly appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts via the Graduation Feedback Survey we sent earlier this week. Your voice will play a critical role in helping us identify possible solutions for proceeding with these celebrations in the face of this crisis.
Our main focus and priority during the past few weeks has been to refine our curriculum so that it could be administered via a remote learning environment. Our goal has been and will continue to be ensuring that all of our students have access to quality instruction during this unprecedented time.
Since Governor Pritzker has extended the stay at home order and is keeping schools closed through April 30, we can start to formalize potential plans for prom and graduation. As you know prom is scheduled for May 2. This prom date creates a problem with the planning, preparation, and execution due to the social distancing guidelines. Since this date is no longer a viable option, we have selected an alternative date of May 23. If the order or limit on mass gatherings extends into May, your Building Leadership Team will work on other options.
In terms of the graduation survey, below is the data we collected as of Wednesday April 1. As you can see, many of you recommended a summer graduation. Although we did not provide this as an option due to construction contingencies and the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation, we are going to do our best to make it happen because it is what you want for your special day.
Central:
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8.4% Virtual Graduation
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10.3% Parking Lot Graduation, with students and families remaining in their cars (like a drive-in movie)
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21.3% Postpone graduation, host graduation for Class of 2020 in Spring of 2021
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54.4% Summer Graduation
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5.4% Cancel Graduation
South:
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10.2% Virtual Graduation
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17.6% Parking Lot Graduation, with students and families remaining in their cars (like a drive-in movie)
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13.6% Postpone graduation, host graduation for Class of 2020 in Spring of 2021
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48.3% Summer Graduation (two students specifically requested fall, but are included in this number)
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6.8% Cancel Graduation
Graduation is an important event in any school year. We are committed to hosting a graduation that celebrates you and all you have done as a Red Devil. We remain hopeful that we will be able to keep our graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 21. We are also identifying an alternate date for graduation either in-person or virtually for a weeknight in late July at a time and place to be determined. We cannot imagine missing the opportunity to celebrate your amazing accomplishments with your parents, grandparents, other family members, and friends. We will do everything we can to host an in-person graduation ceremony.
As we have stated throughout this crisis, all decisions about events and activities will be based upon the guidance and direction of local, state, national and international health organizations and government agencies. While our hope is to avoid having to cancel these milestone events, we ask that you please continue to be patient about finalizing the exact dates. Given the seriousness and severity of the outbreak, we want to make sure that whatever decision we make will best preserve and protect the health and safety of everyone involved.
Therefore, in summary, assuming that we are able to do so safely, we are looking forward to celebrating with you and your families at these important events! We are in this together!
Summary of Events and Dates
Prom May 23, 2020 at the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier
Graduation May 21, 2020
or
Graduation in late July 2020 virtually or in-person at a location TBD and a time TBD.
