Capping off an unusual school year, the three public school districts in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff areas are planning live, outdoor graduation ceremonies, including allowing family and friends to attend – with some public health limitations as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues.
Lake Forest High School is set to hold Class of 2021 commencement June 5 on the front lawn of the school. The ceremony will move to the next day in case of inclement weather, school officials said.
“It will be very wonderful to have all of our graduates, their families and our staff together for such a beautiful, culminating event. So, we are excited,” LFHS Principal Chala Holland said at the May 10 school board meeting.
For public health safety reasons, tickets will be necessary for entrance to the ceremony and attendees will have to take a health screening upon reaching the campus, according to information on the school website.
For parking, the school will provide shuttle buses from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff train stations prior to the start of the ceremony and until shortly after its conclusion, according to the website.
Deer Path Middle School, which is part of Lake Forest School District 67, has scheduled the eighth-grade graduation ceremony for June 1 – or the next day, in case of bad weather.
Graduates will be able to invite up to four guests each, depending on family living situations, according to an April letter by the two Deer Path principals.
The district was set to host “Braves Fest” Thursday, an outdoor festival on the Deer Path grounds highlighted by a live band, DJ, photo stations and an ice cream truck, according to the letter.
The event was to be divided into two separate sessions, with 100 students per session.
At Lake Bluff School District 65, a live graduation is set for June 7 at Lake Bluff Middle School. If it rains, the ceremony is scheduled to move to June 9, according to school officials.
Lake Bluff Middle School Principal Nate Blackmer wrote in a community letter that due to an easing of safety guidelines from the state and county health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, attendance will not be limited.
However, families were asked to tell the school district how many people they expect to attend.
He said, however, that safety measures are planned, in light of the pandemic.
“This will be a COVID cautious event,” Blackmer wrote. “All attendees are welcome to wear a face mask and we are specifically requesting that all unvaccinated individuals wear masks during the program. Lake Bluff District 65 will not be checking vaccine credentials or enforcing mask wearing among attendees. Our graduates are expected to wear masks during the program. They will be allowed to remove their masks when they cross the stage to accept their promotion certificate.”
For public health safety reasons, the district will not host a dance after the ceremony. However, an “Amazing Race” is scheduled for eighth graders June 4 where groups of four will participate in scavenger hunt type-activities, including a group picture challenge.
LBMS officials promise pizza and prizes afterward, according to the school website.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer.
