Graduation, prom, promotion in planning stages

By: 
Ann Gill
Editor

Coal City High School’s senior class will graduate in four weeks and as their final days of high school tick down, building administrators and staff are preparing for the pomp and circumstance.

Principal Chris Spencer announced in a letter to parents last week that graduation will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 16.

“At this time, the plan is to have graduation outside with the students on the athletic field spaced out six feet apart,” Spencer said. In the event of inclement weather the ceremony will be moved inside.

Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH] guidelines will determine the number of guests each student will be allowed to invite to the outdoor ceremony. If moved indoors, the number of guests would be further limited to comply with the state’s guidelines for gatherings. The ceremony will be live streamed and a link provided to the public at a later date.

Superintendent Dr. Kent Bugg said it might not be until a couple of weeks before the ceremony before capacity is determined.

“We want to be able to get as many people to these events as we can, we don’t want to come out right now and say this is the final plan because in two weeks that might change,” Bugg said.

The same can be said for the middle school’s plans for eighth grade promotion, set to be held on the evening of Friday, May 28. Tentative plans include an outdoor ceremony, according to Bugg. More details will come on promotion plans as the day approaches.

“It’s not a lack of planning or that we aren’t talking about it. It’s that we don’t want to commit to something and parents make plans that we have to change a week or two before the event. So we’re going to wait as long as we can to make final decisions and the reason is to get as many people as we can there and stay in accordance with IDPH guidelines,” the superintendent said.

In announcing plans for high school graduation, Spencer further shared there will be a prom this spring and its set for Saturday, May 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the high school.

In keeping with tradition, prom will start with students walking across the stage for prom walk, however due to IDPH guidelines the public will not be allowed to attend. The event will be live streamed with a link to be shared the week of prom.

The preliminary plan is for the prom to be held outside under tents with a disc jockey and snacks for those attending. No dinner will be served this year.

“We are still working on specifics,” said Spencer who shared Promfest is scheduled to follow the dance and will also be held at the school.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event will be moved inside utilizing several areas of the school including the gyms and auditorium.