Schools grapple with ceremony structure

Schools grapple with ceremony structureOFA Senior portraits grace the soccer field fence at Owego Free Academy. (Photo by Wendy Post)

Earlier this month, New York State’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, authorized that socially distanced graduation ceremonies of up to 150 people would be allowed beginning on June 26. 

In a press statement, the governor backed his decision, stating, “Based on today’s numbers we can continue to advance our reopening, and we will now allow outdoor graduations of up to 150 beginning June 26. New Yorkers have worked together to bend this curve quickly, and if we continue on this trajectory, remain responsible and follow all social distancing protocols, we can keep accelerating our reopening strategy.”

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

An Owego Free Academy senior grabs a photo opportunity last week during a senior cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

In Tioga County, the number of total cases since the pandemic began is holding steady at 148 as of Friday morning. But still, school officials are trying to work with the limited attendance number set by the governor. Owego Free Academy has approximately 170 graduating, so working with this number is proving to be a challenge.

And even if mass gatherings are given the go ahead during Phase 4 of the governor’s reopening plan, it will most likely come with capacity restrictions.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

An Owego Free Academy senior picks up a cap and gown during a senior celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

We recently reached out to Luke McEvoy, spokesperson and Public Relations Representative for the Owego-Apalachin District, to find out how these numbers might affect any planned ceremonies.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

Staff members were on-hand to distribute things during a recent cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

In an email on Thursday, McEvoy stated, “The 150 number is the total attendance at one time, which is what is causing issues and frustration across the state.”

He noted that other school districts, like those in Broome County, are pushing the governor to come back with a capacity percentage or a percentage based on overall space. He noted that some of the schools in Broome County are even looking at the Rumble Ponies stadium.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

Staff members were on-hand to distribute things during a recent cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

“It only works if you have everyone there,” added McEvoy, noting that 150 doesn’t work, but a percentage of capacity would.

In the meantime, the school district has done a bit of celebrating on its own, with social distancing applied.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

OFA Seniors were cheered on during a recent cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

On Friday, June 5, the school held a senior cap and gown celebration that allowed students to drive through the bus loop at the Owego school during a two hour window to receive their cap and gown, a senior shirt, a gift from the senior advisors, a senior yearbook if ordered, athletic gifts and awards, and even a book from the Family Reading Partnership and a Swag Bag from CASA Trinity.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

Staff members were on-hand to distribute things during a recent cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

The event also offered an OA backdrop for senior pictures. 

As for graduation, the school is holding on to Saturday, June 27 as the ceremony date, with plans hinging on the state’s decision.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

Staff members were on-hand to distribute things during a recent cap and gown celebration held at the school. Provided photo.

In the meantime, you can visit https://youtu.be/bHauf4h9Tvg to view a video from the recent cap and gown ceremony in Owego. Senior Spotlights also continue on social media, and a photo of each Class of 2020 graduate hangs along the soccer fence on the school’s grounds on Sheldon Guile Boulevard.

Schools grapple with ceremony structure

The Owego Apalachin school bus drivers and members of the transportation department created this photo for OA. Provided photo.

For other schools in Tioga County, like Candor, a graduation ceremony has tentatively been set for June 25. We will be reaching out to the schools this week to get further details on what things might look like this year for their graduating seniors. At that point, the directive coming out of Albany should be solidified.

Click on the thumbnails to view more photos.

 

1 Comment on "Schools grapple with ceremony structure"

  1. Brian Aingworth | June 15, 2020 at 5:58 pm | Reply

    Just call it a Graduation Ceremony Protest!!!
    Cuomo is a tyrant who allows thousands of protestors and rioters to destroy 5th avenue in NY City yet threatens partiers on the East Side and won’t allow innocent kids to have a graduation ceremony they can remember and be proud of.
    Cuomo “murders by Covid” the elderly by mandating they be placed in Long Term Care Facilities just to drive the death rate up.
    Think about the shear absurdity of hi tyrannical nonsensical rules regarding reopening, social gatherings, funerals, protests, looting, vandalism, and “covid early prisoner release”. They make no logical sense be4cause they make no logical sense. Now, he is threatening to take away small business licenses if they don’t strictly obey his “orders granted by the fake-ass covid emergency declaration”.
    De Blasio is just as bad if not worse!!
    I mean who in their right mind would allow the city or state that they are responsible to protect to burn down or be subjected to elderly genocide when all available resources are available to prevent it from happening???
    Only the purely evil would do such a thing!!!

    Cuomo is determined

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