Minooka Community High School to hold in-person graduation ceremony this weekend

MINOOKA — Rain or shine, 6 feet apart or 10 feet apart, Minooka Community High School will be holding an in-person graduation ceremony in their newly designed football stadium this weekend. Should inclement weather become a factor, the graduation ceremony will be moved into the MCHS Performing Arts Center.

Planning by MCHS will have the graduation ceremony over a two-day period, separating the students alphabetically. MCHS is planning a full weekend by holding graduations on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, beginning with a Senior Class of 2020 car parade on Friday, July 10 from 5-6 p.m. and a virtual Prom for the seniors from 8-9 p.m. The Prom Court with the King and Queen will be announced before the parade. Details for the parade and graduation have been communicated to the MCHS families throughout various MCHS correspondences.

"We are extremely excited to offer a variety of events for our seniors to start the weekend celebrations." Minooka activities director Hillary Holden said. "My wish is that when they look back on this time in their life, they will know how much they were appreciated."

“These senior students have shown so much courage and have endured missing so many of those final-chapter events due to the COVID-19 pandemic that we wanted the Class of 2020 to have a final special moment of closure,” principal Bryan Zwemke said. “We are very excited to offer this opportunity to the students and their families.”

The ceremony will be pared down by permitting students in their assigned hour time slot to be staged in systematically assigned locations, adhering to social distancing guidelines as described in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, and parading over the stage, one-by-one. Four to five family members per student will be allowed in the stadium to witness and take pictures during the procession.

“Although the graduation ceremony will be a little trimmed down from a traditional sense, this opportunity will provide a chance to wear their cap and gown, have a professional picture taken receiving their diploma, and walk across that stage with a smile. After all, they deserve it.” superintendent Dr. Kenny Lee said. “I would also like to send a special thank you to our graduation committee, teachers, support staff, and Board of Education for all their dedication and flexibility.”

A video recording of the ceremony will be released in the following weeks after the ceremony on various MCHS social media platforms.