GMHS CLASS OF 2020 Graduation Information

GMHS Class of 2020 Graduation Information

CAP & GOWN PICK-UP – TUESDAY, MAY 12

Date: Tuesday, May 12

Time: Last names:	A – F G – L M – R
S – Z

2:00 – 2:45 PM 2:50 – 3:35 PM 3:40 – 4:25 PM
4:30 – 5:00 PM

Where: GMHS front parking lot (note traffic flow directions below)

Instructions for Pick-up (also see attached map)

•	All vehicles will enter the high school’s property from Williams Road or Directors Blvd. (look for directional signage). They will drive south on Marketing Place, through the District’s transportation parking lots, and enter the high school from the north parking lot (in front of the football field).
•	Following traffic signs and directions from police and staff, vehicles will line up and move toward the front driveway of the high school to receive additional instructions.
•	All persons are to stay in the vehicle at all times. If possible, all persons should wear a protective mask.
•	The graduate’s cap and gown order must be paid in full (check your GoCruisers email for an invoice from Jostens). Jostens will accept cap and gown orders through May 10. Contact Ms. Reinoehl or go to Jostens.com to place an order.
•	Upon arrival at the pick-up location, provide your first and last name to the Jostens representative and/or GMHS staff who will be assisting you. If the student is not present, the person picking up the items must provide the graduate’s six-digit student I.D. number.
•	Lower the back window of the vehicle or open the trunk from inside. Your order will be placed in your car.
•	Upon receiving your materials, please immediately exit the high school’s property.

Please note: If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please contact our school secretary, Mrs. Fasone, at becky.fasone@gocruisers.org.

At cap and gown pick-up, the graduate also will receive: •	Any honors or other cords earned by the student
•     Class of 2020 yard sign and wire frame •     Red ribbon (for red ribbon campaign)

CONFERRING OF DIPLOMAS – SATURDAY, MAY 23

WHERE: WHEN:

TIMING:

Groveport Madison High School (front parking lot) Saturday, May 23, 2020
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

•      Conferring of diplomas (jacket covers) will begin promptly at 9:00 AM •      Vehicles of graduates’ last names A - F may start lining up at 8:30 AM
➢ 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM - Graduates with the last names A - F ➢ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM - Graduates with the last names G - L ➢ 12:30 – 2:00 PM - Graduates with the last names M - R
➢ 2:00 – 3:30 PM - Graduates with the last names S - Z

STAGING & SET-UP:

•	A 12’ x 20’ stage (with handicap ramps) will be set up between the flag pole and the front entrance of the high school. The staging area will be decorated just as it has been for previous graduation ceremonies.
•	A 40’ x 60’ tent will be positioned over the stage to note the location of the activities and to provide protection from weather.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS: (also see attached map)

•	For safety reasons, only one vehicle per graduate will be permitted to enter the school’s property.
•	All vehicles will enter the high school’s property from Williams Road or Directors Blvd. (look for directional signage). They will drive south on Marketing Place, through the District’s transportation parking lots, and enter the high school from the north parking lot (in front of the football field).
•	Following traffic signs and directions from police and staff, vehicles will line up and move toward the front driveway of the high school to receive additional instructions.
•	All persons are to stay in the vehicle at all times. If possible, all persons should wear a protective mask.
•	The graduate should already have his/her cap and gown on in the vehicle before arriving at the front of the high school.
•	When the vehicle arrives at the designated spot (just before the stage), the vehicle will stop, the graduate (already in their cap and gown) will exit the vehicle, and will be given a protective face mask to wear until entering the stage.
•	The graduate will walk to the right side of the stage to await their name being announced by Mr. Foor.
•	At the same time, the family’s vehicle will be directed to pull up in front of the stage so that they have a clear view of their graduate receiving their diploma.
•	Once announced, the graduate will approach the table, pick-up the diploma jacket cover, and turn and face their family’s vehicle. The graduate’s family may take video or photographs from inside their vehicle. No one other than the graduate will be permitted to leave their vehicle.

•	The graduate will then move to a second location on the left side of the stage where our photographer will take the graduate’s “official graduation photograph.”
•	Once the photograph is taken, the graduate will exit the left side of the stage to return to the family’s vehicle (which has already been directed to move forward to the pick-up location).
•	This process will repeat itself until all graduates have crossed the stage to receive their diploma.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY/BROADCASTING:

•	A professional videographer will record the entire event. If the graduate was unable to attend

the May 23 ceremony, his/her picture will be included in the video to be shown on June 5. •	A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate holding his/her diploma

cover.

•	The event will be live-streamed over Facebook and/or the District’s YouTube channel (Groveport Madison Schools).

PERSONAL SAFETY MEASURES:

•	The District will provide a protective mask to all graduates as they exit their family’s vehicle. They will be asked to wear the face mask until stepping onto the stage.
•	All staff and volunteers will wear protective masks and gloves at all times, and all participants will observe social distancing protocols.

NOTE:

•	Graduates will be practicing the traffic flow plan when picking up their caps and gowns on Tuesday, May 12.

VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY – FRIDAY, JUNE 5

WHEN:	Friday, June 5, 2020 7:00 PM

A video will be made available on the District’s YouTube channel that incorporates the following: •	Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 - by Sir Edward Elgar
•	Pre-recorded speeches from the Superintendent, Principal, Student Council President, and Valedictorians
•	Presentation of the graduates (conferring of diplomas) from the May 23 ceremony

•	If the graduate was unable to attend the May 23 ceremony, his/her picture will be included in the video
•	Pre-recorded video of the Student Council President and Valedictorians moving their tassel from the right to the left side of their cap
•	Pre-recorded video of the Student Council President and Valedictorians tossing their mortarboards marking the completion of the Class of 2020’s graduation ceremony

Commemorative Program

•	A copy of the official graduation program will be available for free download on the Class of 2020 webpage of the high school’s website.

Graduate’s Official Photograph

•	A free download of the graduate receiving their diploma will be available on the Class of 2020 webpage of the high school’s website. A link to the photographer’s website also will be provided for anyone wishing to purchase prints of the photographs.

Graduation Ceremony Video

•	A free download of the entire graduation ceremony (music, pre-recorded speeches, conferring of diplomas, and marking of official graduation will be available on the Class or 2020 webpage of the high school’s webpage.

Diploma

•	The graduate's diploma will be mailed to the student's home address before June 5.

CRUISER CLASS OF 2020 COMMUNITY-WIDE CELEBRATION

We recognize that our seniors and their parents have made many sacrifices this year as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. While it's very difficult to set aside our emotions at what's been lost, it's essential to keep in mind these sacrifices also protect those we most love and cherish each day. And we are all vulnerable to either spreading and/or contracting the virus ourselves.

We're very proud of the Class of 2020, and we know our entire community joins us in celebrating their accomplishments. While none of us can fully make up for those losses, we have taken several steps to make this year’s graduation a community-wide celebration of our students and their families.
•	Class of 2020 Yard Sign – At the graduate’s May 12 cap and gown pick-up, each student will receive a sign to place in their yard or window indicating they are a proud 2020 Cruiser graduate.
•	Red Ribbon Campaign – To celebrate and honor our graduates, we encourage the entire community to show their support by tying red ribbons around a tree, street-side mailbox, or other visible locations. Each graduate will receive a red ribbon to kick off the red ribbon campaign.
•	Class or 2020 Celebratory Banners – Congratulatory banners are being placed at all of our schools and the District’s offices.
•	Class of 2020 List of Graduates – A banner that includes a list of all of our graduates will be proudly displayed on the front lawn of the high school.

•	Newspaper Advertisement – A full-page advertisement listing all of our graduates will run in the May 31 edition of The Southeast Messenger.
•	Senior Spotlights – We have already begun spotlighting the Class of 2020 through the District’s and the high school’s Facebook pages. If you would like to submit a Senior Spotlight, please complete the online form, at https://www.gocruisers.org/SeniorSpotlight.aspx
•	Class Tributes – Our staff and numerous high school underclassmen are sending pictures and personal messages to the Class of 2020, which will be shared on the District’s and the high school’s Facebook pages.

GO TO GMHS WEBSITE FOR ALL GRADUATION INFORMATION

All information relating to graduation activities is located on the GMHS website, at www.gocruisers.org/Classof2020.aspx. For additional questions, contact Ms. Reinoehl or Mr. Lomonico.