High schools have always had to think of alternate plans when it comes to graduation and senior prom, but with pandemic guidelines changing on a weekly basis, the plans are as flexible as ever.
On Monday, Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central high schools hosted in-person, outdoor graduation ceremonies simultaneously at their stadiums in Darien and Hinsdale, at 5 p.m. A total of 672 students graduated from Hinsdale Central and a total of 373 students graduated at Hinsdale South.
According to Hinsdale South Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp, the “graduation was flawless.”
“It was a beautiful and perfect evening,” she said. “We had been very worried about the weather. I downloaded five weather apps on my phone to explore and track the weather.”
Hinsdale South contracts with an outside sound vendor who has a licensed meteorologist on their staff. After consulting with him, school administrators at South were able to make the call early Monday that graduation would go on as planned without the need for a rain date.
With public schools directed to follow Illinois’ phase four Guidance for seated events such as graduations, the outdoor stadium capacities were limited to 25%. Each graduate received four tickets for guests to attend in-person and the ceremony was also livestreamed.
While face coverings were a must, Pokorny Lyp said school officials were glad to give the students a more traditional-feeling experience after an unprecedented school year.
“My first year as principal was when the class of 2021 were freshman, so we have had the same four year journey together,” she added.
While Hinsdale Central’s prom was on May 1 out on the Dickinson Stadium track field, Hinsdale South’s prom-event will be held Friday, May 21 at Lincoln Park Zoo.
“We collaborated throughout the year with a diverse group of about 50 seniors to figure out how they can customize their beloved senior traditions while adhering to pandemic restrictions,” Pokorny Lyp said. “Their biggest ask was to have prom off-site.”
The seniors understood all along that they might need to hold prom on the football field, but they worked with the activities director and Pokorny Lyp to try to find a venue that would still ensure their safety.
It is unusual to have prom after graduation, but the upcoming late-May forecast and Lincoln Park Zoo’s recommendation to host the event on May 21 led to the event being scheduled for Friday.
Pokorny Lyp said the group of principals in the west suburban conference collaborate often and there’s been a mix of on-campus and off-campus prom events this year. For example, Plainfield North had theirs off-site as well, and Downer’s North and South will be having theirs at the Bolingbrook golf club.
“For us, our decision was made 100% working collaboratively with our students,” she said.
