The Class of 2020 has had an unusual end to their Senior year. No one knew that when they left their high school for Spring Break in March they would not be returning again for classes.
It was on March 17, 2020 that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem announced that there would be no school across the state for one week due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. That one week, turned into one month, and that turned into the remainder of the school year.
School Districts adapted their learning plans and Lennox School District provided plans for online instruction. Now the School District is planning for a virtual graduation.
In a letter sent out last week to parents and students, High School Principal Chad Allison said that “Lennox High School would like to honor our class of 2020 graduates. If CDC guidelines permit, we hope to hold a formal graduation ceremony later this summer. However, to help celebrate now, our seniors will join us in recording a graduation celebration to view with family on graduation day.”
This video will be available for the public to view on May 9th, likely to be posted on the Lennox School District YouTube page.
The virtual graduation was filmed with each student and up to four family members attending in groups on April 27. The student wore their cap and gown and walked across the stage to receive their diploma as their four guests looked on.
Watch next week’s paper for coverage of the event and a special Salute to Seniors section put together by the Lennox High School Pep-A-Graph.
Also on Saturday, May 9th there will be a Senior Graduation Parade starting at 1:30 p.m. The parade will start on Main Street and Hwy. 44 with students and immediate family following a preplanned route through Lennox, Chancellor and Worthing. Maps are available at www.lennoxnews.com.
In Lennox, parking for those wishing to watch the parade will be available on Main Street, the football field parking lot or available parking spots along the route. Please park in every other parking spot to maintain appropriate distances; stay in or near your car.
School correspondence encourages those watching to make signs to hold up or decorate your home, sidewalk or vehicle to show support and encouragement for graduates as they drive by.
It was also noted again that physical distancing measures will be expected of everyone and do not attend if you are not feeling well.
These events do not take the place of a full graduation ceremony. During Monday night’s School Board meeting, the board approved the following four dates for a traditional ceremony to take place: June 6, June 27, July 11 and August 1. May 30 may also be looked at if social distancing limitations are lifted prior to that date.