(More information following story)
Rhinelander High School will go forward with in-person graduation ceremonies at Mike Webster Stadium on July 31 at 7:00 p.m. That word from school officials Thursday. There will be a number of restrictions in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
High School principal Shane Dornfeld says he set a decision date of July 15 based on what conditions are at the time...
"There's been a lot of planning and preparation, more so than any other graduation ceremony ever. Just all the factors and considerations that have gone into making this decision and then going forward with it..."
Masks will be required and hand sanitizer will be available. Six-foot distancing while seated will be required. Guests can bring chairs to sit on on the track if they don't feel comfortable sitting in the stands. When the ceremony is done, all will be asked to leave right away. Those are a few of 10 restrictions that are being observed. The guest tickets will be given out to students at the mandatory practice at the stadium on July 31st at 9a.
Dornfeld says a student doesn't have to be there to graduate...
"Attendance is not mandatory. If your family for any reason feels like you do not want to attend, do not feel safe about attending, we said in the communication it is not mandatory and you don't have to be there..."
Dornfeld the diplomas will be mailed to students and families who choose not to attend.
The release is below.
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Hello RHS Class of 2020 students and families!
This message is to update you on the decisions that we have made in regards to what the graduation ceremony will be like on July 31st. After much consideration and consultation with others, we have decided to go ahead and have the in person graduation ceremony at Mike Webster Stadium on July 31st at 7pm.
Obviously, we will have to have many safety measures in place to make this special event as safe as possible for everyone that plans on attending.
Nobody should be attending the ceremony if you are feeling sick.
These are the requirements that we will have in place:
*Masks will be required for all students and guests
*Hand sanitizer will be provided at the entrance to the stadium
*6 foot physical distancing will be used for seating
*Guests may bring their own chairs to sit around the track and distance if they would like to do that rather than sit in the bleachers 6ft. apart from other families.
*After the ceremony is concluded, all students and guests must leave the stadium area and not congregate in groups *Diplomas will be given out to students attending the ceremony in front of RHS, outside the main entry, immediately following the ceremony. Only students need to be going to this area.
*Parking will be limited to James Williams Middle School and at Rhinelander High School. No parking will be allowed on the quarter mile road between the middle school and high school because of the dome construction in progress and equipment.
*Students and guests will enter the stadium from the south side.
*We will not shake hands with students as the diplomas are given to students walking across the stage.
*All students will have to fill out the contact tracing form and information sheet about who their guests will be.
*Students from a single household will be allowed to receive two tickets for family guests and students from dual households will be given up to four guest tickets. The guest tickets will be given out to students at the mandatory practice at the stadium on July 31st at 9am.
If you are not at the practice or do not have all of your school fines/fees (including food service) paid in full, you will not be allowed to attend the ceremony. Payments received after July 15 th must be paid with money order or cash, personal checks will not be accepted.
Attendance at this ceremony is not mandatory. Safety of all students and guests is of utmost importance to us! If for any reason you do not want to attend, please call the HS main office 715-365-9500 ext. 8535 and speak with Megan Marchant during normal school hours starting today. She can mail your diploma to you or you can call and pick it up in front of RHS.
Also, if the weather is not satisfactory on July 31st, we will notify all families and do a senior recognition parade through town instead at the same time of 7pm. If we have to do the parade, the route and meeting point will be shared out to you in a later message as well.
If we do a live in-person ceremony, it will be live streamed on Facebook Live so that family members who are not able to be in person can still view the ceremony live. If we do the parade, that will be broadcast live on Hodag Legends 101.3FM, so all speeches and music will be on air.
Be well everyone!
RHS Administration
