The coronavirus pandemic has put on hold many of those familiar senior year milestones: prom, recognition for their accomplishments, and a commencement ceremony with all of the familiar trappings.
Now, graduation plans at Delaware high schools are evolving after Governor John Carney recently updated the COVID-19 State of Emergency to allow outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people.
A parent in the Brandywine School District, Courtenay Hoernemann, described the past few weeks as "frustrating and sad" as her daugher, Hallie, prepares to graduate from Concord High School. The family has already delayed a vacation that was scheduled for early summer.
Sunday's scheduled commencement has been postponed until late July. It's expected to be held outdoors. How the ceremony will proceed will depend in large part on the guidance that's still in place at that time.
"As long as the parents can physically be there to see their child walk across the stage or platform or be handed their diploma...I think that's what most parents want."
- Courtenay Hoernemann, parent
"There wasn't really a need to force it now, and have it virtual," Hoernemann said.
"As long as the parents can physically be there to see their child walk across the stage or platform or be handed their diploma... I think that's what most parents want," Hoernemann said. "They want that visual. They want that to happen."
Sussex Tech high school held off on making a final decision about graduation for its 280 graduates. Superintendent Stephen Guthrie said the district had been struggling to determine the best way to honor this year's seniors while complying with the Executive Order.
The current plan is to hold a series of scaled-down outdoor ceremonies in early June honoring groups of students. Each graduate would be allowed to invite a few family members.
"They will get to feel like it is a traditional graduation, and we certainly are willing to put in the extra time," Guthrie said.
Outdoor ceremonies are also in the planning stages at Middletown High School and Appoquinimink High School. Those events, however, will not be held until mid-July.
Numerous guidelines are in place for in-person graduations. They are not to be held indoors. Signs will be in place warning that people should not enter if they have symptoms associated with COVID-19. Anyone 13 or older must wear a face covering.
Social distance guidelines - staying six feet apart - are also to be followed and there is to be "no physical contact between members of different households - handshaking, hugging, etc."
Virtual graduations, with the students participating but without an invited audience, are being planned at Cape Henlopen High School, Dover High School and several others - including at William Penn High School, where more than 500 graduates will receive their diplomas.
William Penn in the Colonial School District is planning its virtual graduation in early June, but seniors will also be honored at a drive-through diploma pick-up event, and at another virtually-held awards ceremony. Glasgow High School, Newark High School and Christiana High School in the Christina School District will also hold virtual commencement events.
"It allowed us the freedom to do a couple of things that we wouldn't have been able to do," Glasgow High School Principal Butch Ingram said. Viewers and students of the virtual graduation will be treated to performances in addition to enjoying the celebration.
Brewington, meanwhile, has a wish for William Penn's Class of 2020.
"I would hope that they felt like this whole thing has made them stronger and that they can basically get through anything that throws at them," Brewington said. "We will always remember them and we'll always remember the things they've done this year in spite of the coronavirus."
