The Bulldog Beat
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Special Edition


July 30, 2020

Mary Persons High School and the Monroe County Board of Education are excited to honor the Class of 2020 with a traditional graduation ceremony tomorrow, July 31, 2020 at 8pm inside Dan Pitts Stadium. In the event of rain, graduation will be Saturday, August 1, at 10am. 
 
The CDC and local public health officials advised us that large gatherings of 250 or more people offer more opportunities for person-to-person contact and pose a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, in consultation with local and regional public health departments, we are strictly adhering to the highest safety standards. It is going to take a collective effort to host such a large event and we appreciate your efforts and responsibility in helping us host this event. Thank you in advance for following these rules and guidelines to keep our community safe and healthy!   
  1. Each graduate has been given four tickets for parents/guests to attend the outdoor ceremony. Seniors will be responsible for distributing tickets to their guests. 
  2. ALL guests, regardless of age, are required to have a ticket to enter the stadium. Seniors must keep up with their tickets. No replacements will be provided. 
  3. Guests will sit on both the home and visitor sides of the stadium in designated seating areas. Seating in areas marked with a red 'X' is not allowed.   
  4. Law enforcement from Monroe County and Forsyth will be present to ensure proper social distancing.
  5. Guests will only be allowed in the stadium beginning at 7:00PM. No congregating or visiting inside the stadium.
  6. Masks are recommended but are not required. 
  7. Students and faculty will be seated on the field at a proper distance to maintain social distancing protocols.
  8. Water will not be distributed at the event. Guests are encouraged to bring bottled water to the graduation ceremony.
  9. The field is off limits to guests. Only graduates, faculty, and staff will be allowed on the field. 
  10. Following the graduation ceremony, guests should remain in the stands until all graduates have left the field and exited the stadium.
The ceremony will be live-streamed to allow for those not attending in person to view the ceremony. Click below to view the ceremony.
Graduation Parking Information 

Mary Persons High School will once again work with local law enforcement and emergency management to organize parking and access to Dan Pitts Stadium at Mitchell Field for 2020 Commencement Ceremonies to take place on Friday, July 31, 2020 at 8 p.m.  
Adequate parking for parents and the public will be available as follows:
  • Behind Dan Pitts Stadium at the direction of BOE personnel
  • Adjacent to the Mary Persons 9 th grade campus
  • New parking south of and behind Fine Arts Center
  • Junior Parking Lot and Baseball parking lot at Mary Persons Main Campus with walking access to the stadium
  • All parking located between the MPHS Field House and the Monroe County Board of Education Building has been designed for handicapped permitted vehicles only . These parking spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with law-enforcement personnel supervising.
  • Newton Memorial Drive between South Lee Street and the Stadium will be closed by the City of Forsyth to all vehicle traffic beginning at 5 p.m.  This access will be reopened at the conclusion of graduation for exit-only traffic.
  • Graduating Seniors involved in the ceremony will be directed to park in the Senior and Faculty parking lots at the Mary Persons Main Campus, accessible only from Montpelier Avenue.
  • NO Parking is allowed in the City of Forsyth Cemetery nor on the sides or shoulders of U.S. 41 (Brooklyn Avenue). Vehicles violating this rule will be subject to tow or impound.
  • If the BOE campus parking becomes full, the area will be closed to vehicle traffic.
  • No vehicle traffic will be allowed on the roadway between Mitchell Field and Mary Persons Main Campus.
Attendees are encouraged to carpool with others as much as possible to reduce the number of vehicles.  Attendees also are reminded to be respectful of residential and commercial property in the area.
In case of inclement weather on the night of graduation, the following will take place:
  • Graduation ceremonies will be delayed a reasonable period of time until the weather clears.
  • If ceremonies cannot take place on Friday night, they will be rescheduled for Saturday morning, August 1, at 10 a.m.
Mary Persons High School and Monroe County Board of Education appreciates the cooperation of all supporters as we plan for and conduct a safe commencement for the class of 2020.  The goal is to make this a memorable night for the members of the MPHS Class of 2020, their families, and the community.
Follow us on  Twitter
@MphsTipoff
Follow us on Instagram @marypersonshigh.
Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX   Dr. Mike Hickman  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.