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Two graduation ceremonies planned for May 28

5/7/2021



By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer

Montgomery County High School has announced it will host senior graduation in two ceremonies Friday, May 28.

The first ceremony will be for those with the last names of A-K at 5:30 p.m. with those with last names L-Z at 8 p.m. Both ceremonies will held in-person outside at Cunningham Field.

“Montgomery County Schools has worked diligently to ensure a live graduation ceremony this year,” the district said in a social media post. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and capacity limitations, and after discussion with the senior class officers, the 2021 Montgomery County High School graduation will be split into two ceremonies and will be held at the MCHS football field (Cunningham Field).

“This will allow each senior to receive a larger number of tickets than would have been available with only one ceremony,” the post adds. “Each senior will receive six tickets for their family/friends to see them graduate.”

The post notes the ceremonies will also be livestreamed and available to anyone with an internet connection.

Parking for the first ceremony will open at 4 p.m. Gates will open and guests may begin to find seats in the bleachers at 4:30 p.m.
Parking will be at the Area Technology Center, Clay Community Center and all McNabb Middle School parking lots after school dismissal, the post says.

The rain dates are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 29. There could also be a diploma drive-thru at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30, in the event of rain.
Parking for the second group, scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, May 28, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Gates will open and guests may begin to find seats in the bleachers at 7 p.m.

Parking will be in the MCHS student and MCHS front parking lots, the post says.
The rain dates are 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, May 29. A diploma drive-thru could be held 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30, in the event of rain.
Seating for both ceremonies will be in the bleachers on either side of the field. The post asks that you sit with members of your household and allow social distancing from other groups.

Superintendent Matt Thompson said the district felt it important to have an in-person graduation.

“Understanding how much our students and especially our seniors have been impacted by the pandemic over the past year and a half, we are so excited to be able to provide in-person graduation for our seniors,” Thompson said.
MCHS Principal Rocky Franz said seniors are grateful they will have a ceremony.

“The general feeling was that they just wanted to be able to have a graduation where they could come together and celebrate, even if that meant two groups of seniors and two ceremonies,” Franz said.

“At that time tickets would have been limited due to capacity restrictions,” he added. “The students recommended the two sessions to allow for an increased number of tickets per graduate. When I met with the senior officers they were just so appreciative that we were willing to give them a graduation at all.”

The graduation plan was developed by a team that included the MCHS administration, counselors, district administration and representatives from district dept.’s such as nursing, maintenance/custodial and law enforcement, Thompson said.

They reviewed Kentucky Dept. of Education and Dept. of Public Health guidelines and found that the plan would meet them, he said.
Franz then met with senior class student officers and shared that information with them to gain their feedback, Thompson said.
That’s when they suggested the two ceremonies, he said.