While the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a wrench in virtually everyone’s plans, the Colfax-Mingo School District recently announced its plans for graduation. The ceremony will include family, walking across a stage, a cap throw and even Pomp and Circumstance, albeit a little differently.
Graduation will occur over the course of several days but it will include many of the activities students would expect during a graduation. They will walk across the stage in the cafeteria while family watches and get their diploma from the podium after having their name read.
“They are going to do that by appointment. So they will come into the building with just them and their family,” C-M High School Principal Todd Jones said.
The appointments for graduation will run approximately six minutes and can include 10-15 family members. There also will be photo opportunities, as well. As soon as a student and their families complete their appointment, the area will be sanitized before the next appointment.
“It’s going to be pretty quick,” Jones said.
The first day of graduation begins on June 18 running from 9 a.m. to noon and then again from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday will be 9 a.m. to noon with another time slot from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday will have students coming in from 8 to 10:30 a.m. for the graduation before another activity.
“On Saturday starting at around 11 a.m., we will be having a senior drive and we will have all of the seniors meet in Mingo,” Jones said.
The drive, which will see seniors go through Mingo and Colfax, will culminate with a celebration at the C-M High School football field. The seniors will walk to the middle of the field to Pomp and Circumstance, do a balloon release, a cap toss and, of course, move their tassels.
“We still have given them an opportunity to be in front of family and with the senior drive and the culmination with the cap throw we have the kids together at least for part of it. That was extremely important for us to try to honor what it was that the students felt that they wanted,” Jones said.
Of course, while all these activities are taking place there will be social distancing measures observed. For the crowd portion on the football field, masks aren’t required but it is recommended to wear one and maintain social distance.
“As we get closer we will explain a little bit more ... We just don’t know what it will look like at the football field,” Jones said.
While it won’t be the traditional graduation where seniors sit beside their friends and listen to speeches while their families watch, they will get as much of that experience as possible. C-M administration asked questions and got answers to help put this all together.
“I think in the end we believe that we have done a great thing for our kids and we are excited about it,” Jones said.
Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com
