Sumter School District to honor seniors with virtual graduation

Yard signs, billboards, social media spirit week planned

Posted

All our coronavirus coverage is free to the public. It’s the right thing to do as a public service to our community. If you find this article helpful or informative and want to support our continued coverage, please support us with a tax-deductible donation.

To find all our coronavirus coverage, including helpful local resources and website links, click here.

---

As many expected, amid the pandemic, Sumter School District will not hold regular graduation ceremonies next month, but the district is still trying to make the experience a memorable one for seniors.

A district spokeswoman distributed a two-page letter from Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox on Friday detailing virtual cap-and-gown commencement ceremonies and other creative twists planned to honor the Class of 2020 at the district's three high schools (Crestwood, Lakewood and Sumter), its career and technology center and adult education program.

To be in compliance with social distancing directives from the CDC and state Department of Health and Environmental Control and to keep the safety and well-being of students and the community first, online, pre-recorded graduation ceremonies will be telecast across various social media platforms, Martin-Knox said.

Those online platforms will include a link from the district's website, www.sumterschools.net, and Facebook page, @sumterSCschools, according to Shelly Galloway, the district's executive director of communication and community engagement.

Each school will also communicate with graduates specific details regarding their commencement exercise, according to the letter.

The letter states that during the virtual ceremonies, students will be able to celebrate at home with their families on the day and time of the scheduled ceremonies.

YARD SIGNS, BILLBOARDS AND MORE

To further celebrate the Class of 2020, Martin-Knox said all five schools have purchased yard signs to honor every graduate. School leaders will communicate procedures for graduates to pick up their signs and other senior items through a celebratory pick-up line at each school site scheduled for Tuesday, May 26.

In addition, the district will honor seniors by placing graduation announcements in The Sumter Item featuring the names of all graduates on the day of each virtual ceremony.

As an added twist, the Class of 2020 for all three high schools, career center and adult education program will be featured on billboards throughout Sumter in late May or early June, the superintendent said. Also, a banner has already been placed in front of the district office, at 1345 Wilson Hall Road, to celebrate graduates.

The week leading up to graduation, the district also plans to celebrate graduates through a Senior Spirit Week on social media. Each weekday at 9 a.m. from Tuesday, May 26, through Wednesday, June 3, the district will post a Spirit Day icon to honor seniors on the district's Facebook page, @sumterSCschools, Twitter, @SumterSCSchools and Instagram, @SumterSCSchools, pages.

Students and parents may share their pictures directly on the post for the following theme days:

- Tuesday, May 26: School Spirit Day - post a picture wearing your school's colors;

- Wednesday, May 27: Athletic Spirit Day - post picture in your athletic gear or picture from a sporting event;

- Thursday, May 28: Fine Arts Spirit Day - post picture that represents participation in fine arts or appreciation for them;

- Friday, May 29: Future Friday - post picture or quote that represents your plans after graduation - i.e. college, military or workforce;

- Monday, June 1: Memorable School Moment Day - post picture or quote that represents your most memorable school moment;

- Tuesday, June 2: Throwback Tuesday - post picture from your childhood;

- Wednesday, June 3: Cap and Gown Day - post picture in your cap and gown.

The letter closes with Martin-Knox saying the entire district "understands the feelings of uncertainty and sadness that many seniors have experienced during this unprecedented time."

"No one understands and empathizes with their emotions more than our teachers, staff and families alike," Martin-Knox said. "As a team, we will continue to explore additional ideas to honor and celebrate our graduates in the months to come. The Class of 2020 has not been forgotten. Congratulations!"