Indiana high schools weigh options for planning graduation ceremonies
FRANKLIN, Ind. (WISH) — Virtual graduation was not something high school seniors dreamed of but it’s quickly become a reality for many of them.
Many school districts still don’t know what they’re going to do for graduation, but Franklin Community High School wants to assure its students have a say in what happens.
The high schools of Indianapolis Public Schools, Avon Community Schools and Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township are all in the same boat as far as graduation goes: They don’t have any plans set in place but are working on them.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Fishers and Brownsburg Community Schools say they have not canceled their high schools’ graduations but are working on backup dates.
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School was one of the first to announce new high school graduation plans, pushing commencement back to July.
“Everybody wants that human connection and the hopefulness of having that down the road before they head off to college is what we all love to see happen,” said Brebeuf principal Greg VanSlambrook. “While nobody knows for sure at this point if it actually can, it’s all wait and see, but we’re going to actively plan for it to hold out that possibility for them.”
Franklin Community Schools sent out a poll to seniors: Attend a virtual graduation on commencement day, or hold out until July to try for a traditional graduation when restrictions may be lifted?
“I think the idea is just to reach out to them, get some information and see,” said Franklin Community High School principal Steve Ahaus. “It’s such an important event to them. What could work for them? What ideas do they have? What could those days look like?”
A Franklin Community parent says her son plans to join the Navy, so he may not be around for graduation if it’s pushed back, but he also doesn’t want to do virtual graduation.
“He got upset, went to his room and shut the door,” Pam Dillow said. “So, I’m sure there’s a lot going on in his head about all that. People that he thought he’d see again, he may never see. Teachers that he was really close to he may not see for a long time.”
Principals told News 8 it’s a confusing time and graduation is going to be strange, but they want to make it the best it can be for students.
“I think every educator in the city feels the same way,” VanSlambrook said. “It’s, you know, ‘Man, those seniors!’ We really feel for them and we really want to do everything that we can to be creative, to keep people connected, to keep kids feeling together and valued and like their legacies at their schools have really been meaningful and will be remembered.”
Traditional graduation dates are within a couple of months here. So it shouldn’t be too long until we find out the plans from districts who haven’t decided yet.