Schools prep for proms, graduation ceremonies
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As spring approaches, the time of year when high school seniors wrap up their year in celebration with prom and graduation nears.
Some local school district officials have prepared to host these end-of-year events on schedule, though precautions will be in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
For Altoona Area High School, "plans are underway" for prom, according to district Community Relations Director Paula Foreman. The high school's outdoor graduation is scheduled for June 11 at Mansion Park Stadium. Foreman said the district will follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "the same as we continue to do for current activities and events."
In Tyrone, prom and graduation will be held outdoors at the high school "with COVID-19 protocols in place," according to high school Principal Thomas Yoder. In an effort to abide by social distancing guidelines, Tyrone's prom will be limited to current Tyrone students.
The Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School principal and assistant principal sent letters to families announcing plans for prom and graduation. Both events will be held outdoors, and high school Principal Maureen Letcher is confident they can go on as planned, safely.
"The way we set them up, we can have them with the guidelines that are in place now," Letcher said.
Letcher said the district obtained a permit from the borough last week to hold a graduation parade June 3. In a letter to families, Letcher and Assistant Principal Mark Harrington said each student will receive two tickets for graduation, presumably for parents only, as the event will be live-streamed to accommodate students' additional family members.
While Letcher feels comfortable with proceeding with the plans for in-person graduation, she is adamant that participants must take the necessary precautions to make sure the event is as safe as possible.
In the letter to families regarding graduation, Letcher and Harrington said, "Current guidelines set forth by the Department of Health must be followed and may be adjusted if further mitigation measures are imposed."
Uncertainty regarding the pandemic has left officials at other schools unsure as to how to proceed with end-of-year events.
At Central High School in Martinsburg, prom and graduation aren't yet set in stone. According to Principal Stephanie Thompson, she and others involved are "currently looking into options" for both events and "no decisions have been made at this point."
Williamsburg Community High School's plans are also not set yet, but Principal Mike Jones said they're in the works.
"We will hopefully have plans solidified, as well as they can be during these uncertain times, by the end of the month," Jones said.
The main challenge now is finding a venue, at least for prom.
Jones said he has been working with some staff members to find a space big enough to host a prom, while still adhering to the state guidelines.
"We are also looking at creative ways," he said, "to host our graduation commencement using space within our district." Jones said that guests will attend commencement virtually.
For Claysburg-Kimmel High School, this year's celebrations are particularly meaningful, as 2021 will mark the school's 100th commencement. For this reason, Principal Stephen Puskar said, "We have a bit of added incentive to make the event very special." Prom will be held at Lakemont Park, with "all of the elements of a traditional prom," Puskar said.
Puskar is confident that students will exercise caution during these end-of-year events, and praised them for their "wonderful job abiding by the guidelines and rules we have in place for in-person instruction."
"Commencement is always an exciting time," Puskar said, "and we are going to do our best to maintain a graduation experience as close to normal as we can."