8th Grade Graduation Details
Jake Jorgenson, Principal at Millburn Middle School
Millburn 8th Graders of 2020
You will find the link to the Sign Up Genius at the bottom.
Please be sure to read through all of this content and then sign up for an appropriate time.
The deadline to sign up is May 21st at Noon. That is this Thursday.
We are so excited to be able to host this Drive Through Graduation with the class of 2020. The event is planned for Monday, June 1st from 3:30 to 7:30. Let's hope for great weather! Since the stage is under the canopy the event is Rain or Shine. Severe weather will force us to use June 2nd as a last resort.
I will continue to share any updates as we get closer to the event. Thanks for your attention to these details on the front side.
Drive Through Graduation Expectations
These expectations are set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Millburn intends to follow all expectations outlined in order to make this event successful, safe, compliant and memorable.
We are very excited to be able to offer a ceremony even on a modified level. Our graduates are special to Millburn and we want to honor them in the best way we can. Following the expectations listed below will really help ensure the event runs smoothly.
“Drive-through: Students, and only their immediate family members who are staying at home together, should arrive in waves and leave after their individual recognition. Students may exit the car individually, in their cap and gown if available, to have a photo taken. These events will require precise scheduling, traffic control, and school safety personnel, etc. and may be appropriate for small to medium-sized graduating classes in less trafficked areas.”
“Only immediate family members staying at the home are allowed.” We expect only one vehicle per family. The only exception to the one vehicle rule would be for families that have divorced parents driving separately but following one another.
“Arrive in waves (small groups) and leave” after your graduate walks the stage. Arrival times are being managed strictly through Sign Up Genius. Master copies will be on site to ensure your appointment time.
“Precise scheduling, traffic control and school safety personnel will be employed” to ensure efficiency. It is critical that you arrive at your scheduled time. Don’t arrive early or during another time slot. Traffic will be stopped where Freedom Way reaches the Parking Lot. Only vehicles arriving at the appropriate time will be allowed to move forward.
If you arrive early, you will either be directed to pull out of line and go to the end of the line, or you will be directed into the “waiting” parking spots that face the park district soccer field.
There is no advantage of arriving early.
A sign with your Appointment Time and Last Name will be issued to each family based on sign up times and this is to be placed in the windshield area. Graduates will also need this sign when they exit the vehicle.
A master list will be on site to double check assigned times.
Additional Expectations to adhere to:
Students will have Cap and Gown, Diploma, NJHS Cord and Name/Time card in advance and should arrive with these items. Students should already be wearing the Cap and Gown.
There is to be no person-to-person contact during the event. No handshakes, No passing of Diploma, hugs, etc.
One graduate will be out of the car at one time, until the graduate ahead of them is walking across the stage.
Family members are not allowed out of the car. This includes taking pictures at the stage. Your vehicle will be so close to the stage that you will not need to get out. Plan on the photo taker to be on the passenger side of the vehicle.
The event is being professionally filmed and edited. It will be available for free to all families with multiple downloads once editing is complete. Thanks to EPIC for helping to cover this cost!
All staff and the graduates will wear a mask. Graduates have special masks being made for them!! Thanks Parent Volunteer!
Since family members will be in the vehicle at all times, you may choose to wear or not wear face masks.
When walking across the stage, the graduate should pause and face their family vehicle for pictures. The face mask can be removed or pulled down for the picture but then needs to be lifted back up to position. Exit the stage. Enter the vehicle and head home for a family celebration.
There will be no restrooms, refreshments or areas of congregation. (Another reason not to arrive early and wait)
Final Reminders and Etiquette
IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING TO THE CEREMONY:
Graduate wearing Cap and Gown
Diploma
Face Mask
Time/Name Card
One vehicle per family
Vehicle camera person on the passenger side
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR GRADUATION DAY
One vehicle per family (exception to multiple parent families)
Show up on time, not early
Graduate is the only person to exit the vehicle at the stage
Snap a couple pictures from vehicle as graduate poses on stage
Follow Etiquette listed below
ETIQUETTE
It is important to underscore that even in a drive-up ceremony, a certain level of etiquette is necessary to give each and every student and family the opportunity to enjoy the ceremony and the recorded audio / video footage of the ceremony.
Ceremony disruptions intended to celebrate one student will often negatively impact the experience for the other families during the ceremony and can result in a poor audio / video quality.
With that in mind, please do not engage in any of the following or similar expressions during the ceremony, the approach to the parking lot or when exiting the parking lot:
Honking car horns
Activating air horns
Playing loud music
Use of a Megaphone
Any type of firework or other noise making device
8th Grade Speeches
Millburn will select two 8th graders that complete this task to give the speech.
If your child is selected, this will be recorded and used in the final edited production! The recording will take place between 2 and 3 pm on June 1st. This is before the Drive Through event starts.
Pick up / Drop off
Last Names A-L Tuesday, May 26th 9-12 or 1-4
Last Names M-Z Wednesday, May 27th 9-12 or 1-4
Drop Off
iPad with brick and cord
Media Center Books
Classroom Textbooks
Sport Uniforms
Choir Music Folder
Pick Up
Cap and Gown
Diploma
Awards/Pins
Car Arrival Card (Ticket to Graduation from Sign Up Genius)
Graduation Pictures (if ordered)
Art Projects
Medications
Grad Program
This is a curbside drop and pick. When you pull up, pop the trunk so items can be removed. Give the staff member your last name so we know who has returned school belongings. Our staff will then make sure that you get the Pick Up items assigned to your 8th grader!
Double check for accuracy at home.
Take Cap and Gowns out of the bag and hang on a hanger asap.
I am told that you should not iron these!!!!
Baseball Refunds
Miller Park has refunded ticket prices back to Millburn. The business office will apply this towards younger siblings returning to Millburn. If this is your last student at Millburn a check will be mailed.