Superior Public Schools will hold the 2019-20 graduation ceremony at 10 a.m., on Saturday, July 18. The ceremony will take place in Superior’s high school gym. The capacity of the high school gym is 1,200. Superior’s graduation plan, which is detailed below, will have a capacity of 510 people. This number is within the Phase III guidelines of 50 percent capacity.

Attending Graduates: 39

Superior Faculty and Staff: 14

Administration

Board of Education

School Counselor

Yearbook Sponsor

Video Coordinator

Music Coordinator

Faculty Members serving as ushers and general supervision

Local Photographers: 3

Party of Guests: 451 (Up to 11 per graduate)

“Party of guests” generally includes members of a household who live together and therefore may be seated together

Each graduate will be allowed to invite up to 11 immediate family members. This would generally include parents and guardians, siblings, and potentially grandparents. Because of the elevated risk for the elderly and for individuals with underlying health conditions, Superior Public Schools ask that families use good judgment in determining which immediate family members are invited.

Graduates will submit a list of names via survey to the school by July 10.

Each “Party of Guests” will sit in a pre-determined area of the provided seating and will be socially distanced 6 feet away from other parties and families.

The sponsor families of the two foreign exchange students will also be included as a party of guests.

Total Attendees: 507

The ceremony will be streamed live on Superior’s Striv Internet channel and be posted on Superior’s Striv website following the ceremony.

All graduates, faculty and staff will be provided masks if they do not have their own. Final determination of whether or not masks are required will be made by July 10.

All graduates, faculty and staff will have their temperature taken upon entering the building and will also wash their hands.

Ceremony rehearsal will occur at 7 p.m., on July 16 The graduates, superintendent, principal, counselor, class sponsors and photographers will attend. Those attending will have their temperature taken upon entering the building and will also wash their hands.

Guest parties entering the building will ensure proper spacing and limit interaction between other parties and guests.

Chairs for the graduates will be organized in three rows of 16 chairs in each row on the gym floor. Chairs will be social distanced at 6-feet apart.

The superintendent, high school principal, and board members will be socially distanced on the stage.

Seating for the 41 “Parties of Guests” will be clearly marked on the bleachers and floor seating and will be socially distanced 6-feet apart.

The school administration has asked spontaneous “grouping” be monitored and limited by all attending parties. This “grouping” usually occurs in parking lots, outside restrooms, entrances, hallways, and the cafeteria area.

Attendees are asked to deliver cards to the graduates before or after the graduation ceremony. There will not be a designated area for cards.

Graduates will meet in the junior high gym at 9:30 a.m., on July 18. Graduates are asked to come dressed in their cap and gowns and are reminded to social distance themselves from others during this time.

Hopefully a class picture will be taken the night of rehearsal. Graduates are asked to wear their caps and gowns that night. Individual pictures will also be taken at this time. All pictures will be taken by a local photographer.

Graduates will enter the gym floor through the west doors of the gym in a single line and will be appropriately spaced.

Students will move one row at a time to the stage area. Spots on the gym floor and stage area will be marked for graduates waiting in line and receiving their diploma.

When graduates are announced, they will move across the stage to receive their diploma.

Signed diplomas will be awarded to the students individually as they cross the stage by the board president. The board president will have latex gloves on during the diploma presentation.

A picture of each graduate with their diploma will be taken by a local photographer when the graduates stop to shift their tassel at the south end of the stage.

Graduates will exit the high school gym through the west doors into the junior high gym. The graduates will pick up their belongings and exit the building. The graduates should not congregate in the junior high gym.

Parties of guest will exit the building through the main entrance. Social distancing should be maintained while exiting the building.

Gatherings and pictures taken with parents and family on school grounds will not be allowed following the ceremony.

Seating, doors, restrooms, common area and cafeteria will be sanitized using the CDC recommended cleaning and sanitizing practices before and after the graduation ceremony.

Microphone and podium will be wiped down following each speaker.

Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the ceremony in multiple locations.

Fellowship, social gatherings or other functions before or after the ceremony on the school premises will not be permitted as such gatherings could expose those present to the virus.

Superior Public Schools discourages large graduation parties to help in the prevention of the spreading of the virus.

Superior Public Schools is excited to honor the Class of 2020! While this day will be memorable for the graduates, we do ask that everyone involved use good judgment regarding attendance. We encourage those that are sick or at risk to stay home. This includes:

The elderly

People with underlying health conditions

Family members who live with elderly people or those who are at risk

People who have access to those at risk in nursing institutions

People who have upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms

People with COVID-19 or live with someone with COVID-19

People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19

Superior Public Schools will continue to monitor the current Directed Health Measures and remain in contact with local officials and health authorities. If guidelines change or additional guidance is received by NDE, this plan is subject to change.