Valley 2020 Commencement Reminders
West Des Moines Community Schools | June 24, 2020
Our Class of 2020 commencements are this weekend! We can't wait to celebrate with you and your graduate. Please read the following updates and reminders which will help you prepare for commencement. If you've missed previous mailings, you can learn more online.
VALLEY STADIUM
4440 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
- Commencement #1: Last Names A-Gn | Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
- Commencement #2: Last Names Go-N | Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
- Commencement #3: Last Names O-Z | Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
Rain Dates: 7 p.m. on Monday, June 29; Tuesday, June 30; or Wednesday, July 1.
Commencement Updates
- Graduates will sit in assigned seats on the field.
- Guests will still sit in assigned bleacher locations based on student last name.
- The livestreams for each commencement are embedded at the bottom of this newsletter and on the WDMCS district website.
Find out more about livestreams and seating below!
Guests & Timing
- Each graduate can bring two guests to the event.
- The stadium will be opened 60 minutes before the event start time.
- Each ceremony will start ON TIME. Please arrive in plenty of time to enter the stadium and get to your seating section.
- Each commencement should last approximately one hour.
Photos & Livestreaming
- Guests are welcome to take photos and/or video of their student from their seat. Guests will not be allowed onto the field.
- Lifetouch will take individual photos of each student as they walk across the stage.
- Each commencement will be livestreamed on the WDMCS YouTube channel. Each livestream is embedded at the bottom of this newsletter. The livestreams will display at the date and time of each commencement. If you click the video before the stream is live, you will be prompted to set up a reminder.
Rules & Resources
- All graduates will be provided a Valley mask to wear. They will be handed out at each stadium entrance.
- All guests are required to bring and wear their own mask. Masks will NOT be provided for the guests, only graduates.
High heels are permitted, but flats are highly encouraged as students will be walking on the field turf.
- There will be NO concessions open.
- There will be NO restrooms open.
- A first-aid station will be set up to provide emergency water, restroom access, or medical attention.
PARKING DIRECTIONS
We encourage arriving in one car, if possible, to help with parking congestion.
Lower Level Parking
Families who are listed as entering gates L1 or LV should park in the lower level parking lot. Guests who will utilize handicap seating should also park in the lower level.
Upper Level Parking
Families who are listed as entering gates U1, U2, or U3 should park in the upper level parking lot.
ENTERING & EXITING THE STADIUM
Entering the Stadium
Graduates and their TWO guests must enter the stadium at the same time. Staff will be checking off graduate names and guests as they enter the stadium.
- Enter the gate indicated by student last name.
- Graduates will be directed to their assigned seat on the field.
- Guests will be directed to their assigned bleacher location based on student last name.
Exiting the Stadium
Families will be asked to stand up and dismiss from the stadium at the same time their graduate's row is dismissed from the ceremony. This will allow for a safer, staggered exit for all of our families.
GATE ENTRANCE DIRECTIONS
Seating Directions
Graduates will sit in assigned seats on the field.
Guests will sit in bleacher sections assigned by student last name.
- Sit on tape Xs only to ensure social distancing.
Gate L1
June 27, 10 a.m.
Last Names
ABDULMAHDI - BAIRD
June 27, 7 p.m.
Last Names
GONZALEZ - HINKLE
June 28, 7 p.m.
Last Names
O’CONNELL - RENKEL
Gate LV
Last Names
BAKER - CARANCI
June 27, 7 p.m.
Last Names
HIXSON - KIRKPATRICK
June 28, 7 p.m.
Last Names
REVELES - SIMONS
Gate U1
June 27, 10 a.m.
Last Names
ERICKSON - GLOE
June 27, 7 p.m.
Last Names
MONTGOMERY - NYBERG
June 28, 7 p.m.
Last Names
WARD - ZARLING
Gate U2
Last Names
DANNER - ERDOESY
June 27, 7 p.m.
Last Names
LONG - MIXON
June 28, 7 p.m.
Last Names
TEIGEN - WALLACE
Gate U3
Last Names
CARLISLE - DALIN
June 27, 7 p.m.
Last Names
KITTLE - LOECHER
June 28, 7 p.m.
Last Names
SINGH - TAWR
Commencement #1: Last Names A-Gn | Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
Commencement #2: Last Names Go-N | Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
Commencement #3: Last Names O-Z | Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
West Des Moines Community Schools
Email: scroffice@wdmcs.org
Website: wdmcs.org
Location: 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: 515-633-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/WDMCS
Twitter: @WDMCS