Dear SHS Graduates and Community...
2020 Commencement Guidelines: Please Read Carefully
COVID-19 has personally impacted many of our students and staff, and we take precautions in regard to our community’s health very seriously. Therefore, we ask all who attend this year's graduation ceremony to cooperate with the following guidelines, not only to keep everyone safe, but to ensure that we have a smooth, joyous evening focused on our graduates.
We are taking a unique approach, combining two formats--a drive-in and a stage crossing--in order to make this milestone as meaningful as possible. We have planned the event with ODE guidelines as our foundation and in accordance with our state’s current restrictions.
DATES
Grad Practice (students only--no guests allowed): Thursday, June 11 at 10:00 AM, Sublimity Harvest Festival. Attendance is required in order to participate at graduation.
Graduation: Saturday, June 13 at 6:00 PM, Sublimity Harvest Festival.
In choosing shoes to wear, keep in mind that graduates will be walking on (potentially wet) grass and on gravel.
PARKING
Students will receive two passes for vehicles to be parked in the guest area: one for a vehicle containing the graduate (which will get priority parking in the first few rows) and an additional vehicle pass to give to other guests.
No vehicles will be admitted without a pass.
Guests in vehicles may not exceed seatbelt capacity.
Grounds will open at 4:00 PM to allow for early parking.
Attendants will usher you into a parking area; larger vehicles will be assigned to the rear of the viewing space so as not to block others’ view.
Only head-in parking is allowed.
Guests need to remain in vehicles, and vehicles must stay for the duration of the ceremony.
Sitting on truck beds, on tailgates, in chairs, or under hatches is not allowed.
Turn off your vehicle’s engine whenever possible.
Please drive slowly on the grounds, and abide by the requests of our volunteers.
FACILITIES
There will be porta-potties available on the southwest side of the grounds. Please consider that, given the format of this event, you may be sitting in your vehicle for a few hours. We urge you to plan your food and drink accordingly.
SIGHTS, SOUND, AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Videographers will capture the action live, so each graduate will be projected onto a jumbotron as they cross the stage.
We will live stream the event for those who cannot attend and will have a YouTube link to share afterward.
As always, a photographer will capture each graduate as they receive their diploma case.
We have planned for rain or shine. In the event of rain, we will use an FM transmitter so you may hear the event on your vehicle’s radio.
SAFETY
ODE is requiring that participants in any graduation ceremonies wear face masks. This is not required while you’re in your vehicles. Our graduates must wear them as well but may remove theirs briefly as they cross the stage. We acknowledge the hassle this presents, and we acknowledge the freedom of choice; however, there are students in our Class of 2020 who are immunocompromised and are worried about their safety in attending this event. We will not allow some graduates to feel unsafe when simple measures may be taken to ensure otherwise. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
We ask that you remain in your vehicles and not approach the staging area for photos, hugs, etc. We have counted the potential number of people in each area (students staging, staff watching, etc.) and do not want to risk exceeding that.
Please think through these guidelines in advance so that you and your family may plan accordingly. We have worked hard to reinvent this ceremony, in this current reality, in a way that truly honors our graduates and captures the spirit of our Eagles community. We’re excited to see you there!
Empowering Every Student for Life.
Email: susanne.stefani@nsantiam.k12.or.us
Website: www.nsantiam.k12.or.us/shs
Location: 757 West Locust Street, Stayton, OR, USA
Phone: (503) 769-2171