Congratulations to the Class of 2020
How does a school preserve the right of passage that is a high school graduation while also keeping its students and community safe in the time of COVID–19? At The Sharon Academy (TSA), a team has worked diligently to re-imagine a graduation ceremony that continues to honor each individual graduate while still following guidelines for public gatherings.
TSA is known for its personalized graduation ceremony that provides an individualized salute to each and every graduate. There is no valedictorian. Nor is there a guest speaker. The Head of School introduces each graduate with a personalized tribute, then turns to mic over to the graduate, who addresses the audience with reflections on their high school experience and their personal growth.
This year, key elements of the graduation will remain intact, while the normal gathering of hundreds of people will not take place. As always, the Head of School will celebrate each graduate with a personalized introduction, and each graduate will also give a speech reflecting on their learning. The difference will be that each senior will have a 30-minute window in which to graduate, and they will be speaking to only their invited guests (up to 18 guests will be allowed) and seven TSA faculty and staff. Once the graduate has walked into the gym to Pomp and Circumstance, been introduced by Michael Livingston, given their own speech and turned their own tassel, the graduate and their guests will leave the gym and the area will then be thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the next graduate’s arrival. TSA’s videographer will compile all of the graduates’ introductions, speeches, etc into a single video to be shared with the graduates and the graduates’ families.
After all graduates have had their chance to receive their diploma and share what they have learned, all 17 students in TSA’s class of 2020 will gather together briefly (following social-distancing guidelines) for the traditional cap-toss to celebrate their accomplishments. Although not entirely the same, it will be special. A 14-minute video of graduation highlights is now available on YouTube.
