High school graduation set for outdoor ceremony June 25

This image provided by the Tupper Lake School District shows how the layout plan for the upcoming graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 to be held on Thursday, June 25 at the L.P. Quinn site.

By Rich Rosentreter

Plans for the graduation ceremony for the Tupper Lake High School Class of 2020 were presented last week – but have been altered slightly after Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily coronavirus update on Sunday when he announced that he will allow outdoor graduation ceremonies of up to 150 people starting June 26 – the day after the local graduation ceremony.

Graduation is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 – one day earlier than previously announced to allow Good-Guys Productions to be on-site - at the L.P. Quinn Elementary School parking lot. It will be a “drive-in” ceremony in which each graduate will be allowed to bring up to two cars with whomever the graduate wishes to attend, which was part of the original plan.

“Good-Guys Production will broadcast close-up views from the stage on their large event screens so everyone will have a great view,” District Superintendent Seth McGowan announced on social media.

The updated graduation plan now will have chairs set up for the 50 graduates to be seated together in front of the stage area outdoors in front of the school and the cars with families will be parked behind them still facing the stage (see image).

Mr. McGowan on Monday addressed the governor’s announcement along with the updated plan on the school’s Facebook page.

“This is great news. However, this would require the 50 graduates to choose only two people to attend ending with a total of 150 people, so we needed to do something more,” he wrote. “Instead, and since our original plan included two cars filled with whomever the seniors wanted to attend, we are going to keep two cars with family members part of the plan.”

In the event of inclement weather, McGowan said the district “will revert to the previous version of this plan in which the graduates remain in the vehicles with their families. However, I am banking on clear skies and smooth sailing. You certainly deserve it!”

The initial graduation plans were unveiled on Thursday last week – also on the school’s Facebook page.

“While it is not everything we hoped for, it remains both meaningful and in compliance with the guidance issued on holding graduation ceremonies,” McGowan wrote.

The initial plan called for “a carefully orchestrated ceremony,” in which “each graduate will come forward from their car with up to four members” of their family, then as each graduate walked across the stage, those four family members “will have a great view for pictures.” When that action is completed, the family members will return to their vehicles “while the next graduate comes to the stage from a designated ‘on deck’ area nearby.” The updated plan did not mention how the aforementioned procedure has changed since the students will now be seated outside and not be in the vehicles with their invited guests.

According to Mr. McGowan, most of the program for the ceremony will take place as with graduations in the past, including the valedictory and salutatory addresses live from the stage.

“While not everything will be possible, our goal is to replicate as traditional a graduation as possible,” he posted. “They will also simulcast sound from the stage to a reserved radio frequency for those in attendance, as well as stream the entire event live on the Internet.”

The outgoing superintendent also posted another message to the Class of 2020.

“Again, while everyone wishes the circumstances of today did not interfere with your graduation, we have made every effort to include the two priorities you expressed to us:  being together and walking across the stage to receive your diploma. We hope you will be gratified to know that so many people have pulled together to make this event special for you. It is an indication of the pride we have in you, and wish to celebrate your success.”

There will be an Awards Ceremony for the Tupper Lake Middle High School Class of 2020 from 6 to 8 p.m. today on the school’s Facebook page.