DHS plans “traditional” graduation May 22

Graduation ceremonies for the Daleville High School Class of 2020 will be held in the “traditional way” after all—while still following COVID-19 related mandates.

After weeks of planning how to best honor the graduating class under state-mandated restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, school officials announced Monday, May 11, that a way has been found to hold a traditional ceremony at Daleville High School’s Warhawk Stadium Friday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m.

“We’ve been working for the past weeks to determine how to best honor our seniors,” said Daleville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Stamps. “We are very thankful the Class of 2020 will be able to have a traditional graduation ceremony.”

Plans are for the graduates to arrive by 6:30 p.m. and report to the high school gym. Only graduates’ families, school employees and city officials will be permitted to attend the graduation.

The graduates should be dressed and prepared to put on their cap and gown when they arrive at the gym, said Daleville High School Principal Josh Robertson. “Gentlemen should be dressed in a white shirt, dark tie, black pants and black dress shoes. Ladies should wear black dress shoes and a dress that meets school dress code under the gown for the ceremony.”

Each graduate will be given five tickets to the graduation in order for state-mandated social distancing to be observed. Each graduate’s family will be assigned an area for their family to sit.

All vehicles need to be parked on the band practice field with spillover parking in the Donnell Shopping Center, Robertson said.

“Due to state mandates preventing students on campus for practices, we will not have the Pride of the South performing, DHS Warhawk Battalion JROTC Sabers and we will not have a practice for graduation that will allow our traditional entrance from six directions,” Robertson said. “At the end of the ceremony, the seniors will stand and throw their hats in the air from where they sit.”

Robertson said that following the ceremony, no one will be permitted on the field. “We will have a table set up on the track where students will return their gown and pick up their diploma. They will then come up the steps and meet with their family and leave campus,” he added. “No congregating of groups will be allowed on campus before or after the graduation ceremony.

Robertson asked that all family photos with the graduate be taken before the ceremony. “Once they arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the ceremony, seniors will not have another opportunity for pictures in their gowns with their family.”

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. in Warhawk Stadium.

“We feel like this will give each student their recognition while adhering to the guidelines set by the governor and Alabama Department of Public Health,” Stamps said.