MACEDONIA, Ohio — Schools across the country have been forced to come up with an alternative plan as graduation ceremonies have been called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My son even said his last day of school, he didn’t know was going to be his last day of school,” Jill Malone said. “End of year senior picnic they were supposed to have, just so many missed events.”
Nordonia High School seniors won’t be graduating alongside hundreds of their classmates.
“There’s a few life events that everybody should have good memories about,” Superintendent Joe Clark said. “And high school graduation is one of those things.”
Clark is going to great lengths to give seniors a graduation worth remembering.
“We’re having two graduation ceremonies,” Clark said.
Seniors are signing up online for time slots and for the several first days in June students will walk across the stage and receive diplomas.
Only family members will be permitted during the intimate ceremonies.
Those ceremonies will be recorded and edited. On June 18, students and their families are invited to watch that pre-recorded graduation ceremony at Midway Drive-In Theater in Ravenna.
“We’re going to end the night with a big fireworks show because 20 years from now when kids talk about their graduation, we want them to remember it,” Clark said.
While Jill Malone never expected to watch her son graduate from inside her car, she understands the steps the district is taking to ensure health and safety.
“I think the parents are more sad than the kids. Not necessarily, but we know what we went through so they don’t know what they’re really missing out on,” Malone said. “They’re missing out on what should have been.”
If social distancing guidelines are dialed back in the months to come, Nordonia Hills City School District is prepared for the possibility of a face-to-face graduation ceremony in late July.
“It may go several hours. It may go several days, but we want to be able to bring in as big of groups as we’re allowed to,” Clark said. “Have kids sign up so they’re graduating with their friends. They can sit and they’ll be spaced out.”
