Union County High School graduation finalized, drive-in ceremony
Board of Education, Community, Panther's Corner May 8, 2020BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – This week, seniors and parents across Union County received long-awaited news about graduation and learned that graduating students will participate in a ceremony.
“Over the last two months, we have been getting ideas sent to us from students and parents about graduation options. We also have been in contact with other North Georgia principals to research what they have planned for their diploma distribution and ceremonies. We have been patient and waited to make the best-informed decision regarding our options for everyone’s safety.” Union County High School (UCHS) Principal C.T. Hussion explained in a letter to parents.
School also formed a graduation committee and contacted more than 40 senior parents to discuss the safest options as well as identify the path forward. Once unanimously agreed upon, they presented it to the high school governance team and then the board of education on May 5 in a called meeting.
Once the meeting ended, Union County Postal Workers quickly sorted and expedited the mailing of almost 200 letters to seniors and parents, so they would be the first to know the plan.
The 2020 graduates will participate in a ceremony unlike any other because of COVID-19. However, Union County Schools and the graduation committee wanted these seniors to participate in as many traditions as possible. They also wanted these events to take place safely.
Letter mailed to all UCHS Senior parents.
They will have an opportunity to walk across the stage and receive diplomas, but safely. The stage ceremony will take place across three days and only immediate family can attend – six people or less/one vehicle. Family and seniors are asked to wear face masks, which seniors can remove when walking across the stage. UCHS will film and take photographs of the seniors.
Seniors will have their speeches recorded separately and everything will be edited together for the May 22 commencement.
UCHS is also livestreaming Senior Awards and Honors Ceremony on May 14 and Scholarship Night on May 19 at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube. First Baptist Church is livestreaming the Baccalaureate Service on May 17 at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube.
The actual commencement ceremony will take place on May 22 as a drive-in celebration of the seniors. First, students and families will pile into their vehicles and drive through town and over to UCHS to watch the ceremony from their car.
Each graduate is allowed one vehicle, and families are encouraged to decorate their cars in honor of their senior. Everyone must remain in their cars throughout the processional and graduation ceremony. Cars will be socially distanced and no one can ride in the back of trucks.
The public can show support along the route as well, but UCS assumes no liability for those who do.
Screens will be located at UCHS to families and students to watch the ceremony, and it will be broadcast on Facebook Live, YouTube, and local radio. Graduation will end with the senior video and fireworks.
The YouTube and Facebook Live broadcasts are a great way to involve family members who can’t attend for various reasons – out-of-state, nursing home residents, or high-risk of COVID-19.
Links will be posted by the school at a later date for those interested in attending the ceremonies.
No student will be forced to participate in graduation due to the risks associated with COVID-19. It’s the parent’s choice if their student participates.
If allowed by social mandates, in July a Senior Cookout night is tentatively planned for all seniors, so they can sign yearbooks, celebrate, and say goodbye.
“Though we cannot replace those experiences and memories, we have tried very hard to honor them in our community with their signs around the square, billboards, and social media blasts. Our community has risen to the occasion to support and honor them in ways that should make us all proud.” Hussion also stated in his letter.
Decision yet to be made concerning 2020 UCHS and Woody Gap graduation
Board of Education, Community April 21, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – During the April 2020 board of education meeting, Superintendent John Hill revealed that Union County High School and Woody Gap principals and graduation committees would prefer to wait until closer to May 22 before finalizing 2020 commencement ceremonies.
COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in school districts across the state thinking outside the box regarding graduation.
“No decision has been made at this time concerning graduation,” said Hill. “Mr. Hussion and Mrs. Knight, along with their graduation committees, have held multiple meetings to discuss all options available to our students – the graduates, the class of 2020.”
Hill affirmed his and the committees’ belief that the correct thing to do is to create several ceremony options, but not decide until closer to graduation.
Some North Georgia school districts have announced commencement plans already. Towns County has pushed the date out until July 31 while White County plans to host a drive-in ceremony on May 22.
“As we have seen over the past few weeks, our situation is very fluid, and it’s changing almost on a daily basis,” explained the superintendent.
The committees will have several graduation ceremony possibilities prepared and make a choice based on the state and federal guidelines in place in May.
“Be patient with us, know that we’re working on this diligently,” Hill stated. “We’re monitoring the situation, and folks are doing a lot of work in the background to prepare for whatever situation [that] we’re in come graduation time. One thing you can be sure of, it’ll be the best decision we can make for these kids to have a fantastic graduation.”
Hill also took the time to thank everyone in the Union County School system and how they came together during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve their students.
The board met via Zoom for the April 2020 meeting.
“You are serving as a board member, in my humble opinion, the premier school district in Georgia. I take this one to the bank. Our employees have led the way for our nation in how this should happen, and how folks should take care of each other and make sure all students are taken care of. It’s been a great success,” declared Hill.
UCS Nutrition Department has prepared meals for children in Union County since Gov. Kemp first closed schools, and the UCS police department, Transportation, and other faculty also aided in delivering meals to those in need. Currently, the school is delivering around 20,000 meals a week.
Teachers, paraprofessionals, special educators, speech-language pathologists, and more have all learned how to navigate virtual learning as well as making themselves available at any time of day to ensure “success for all students.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN3CS9F3swQ