Central High School Class of 2020

In some ways, Spring Cove's 2020 graduation ceremony on June 3 was normal. It was held outside. The weather cooperated beautifully. There were smiles and cheers and tearful parents. There were exuberant students and teachers struggling to keep their expressions on the "smile side" of happy.

But in other ways, the graduation was like no other the district has ever seen.

In order to conform to Pennsylvania's coronavirus-related gathering and social distancing restrictions, and maintain a safe environment for the graduates and their families, the district couldn't hold the traditional ceremony where students sit closely side-by-side, auditorium-style, and an audience of parents, relatives and friends mingle freely.

Instead, the district conceived of a ceremony that offered many of the benefits of a traditional graduation while still conforming to the commonwealth's requirements. The heart of a graduation ceremony is usually when "Pomp and Circumstance" plays as students leave their rows of seats, walk to the front, accept a diploma and a handshake, get a photo snapped and return to their seats in a well-ordered line. But that involves being far closer than the recommended six feet of distance.

The district found a way for the walk to occur, and the handing of the diploma, and the snap of the photo. (The handshake was left out to conform to the state's requirements.)

How did they do it? Each graduating student was allocated two vehicles to stuff with him or herself and friends and relatives. The vehicles then lined up at the Spring Cove Elementary School, where they were organized into alphabetical order. The vehicles were then led by a police escort and a decorated school bus to Central High School via State Route 164, Frederick Road and then Central High Road. A fire truck brought up the rear.

At the high school, each student was dropped off in front of the school at the corner. The student then walked the length of the sidewalk in front of the school, passing under a congratulatory arbor. The student's two accompanying vehicles crept along behind as the graduate strode down the sidewalk. As the graduate approached the front entrance of the school, CHS Assistant Principal Marissa Cerully announced the student as "Pomp and Circumstance" played from speakers. At the front entrance, Principal Stephanie Thompson stood with a smile and a diploma book. The graduate accepted the diploma book and Principal Thompson's congratulations. Book Leidy snapped a quick photo of each smiling graduate. Then, just as they turned to go, Principal Thompson reminded each graduate that the school's teachers were all watching. And they were, on a very large television, set up in a video conference to so the teachers could both watch the ceremony and be seen by the smiling graduate.

The graduates then stepped back into the vehicle that had brought them and were whisked off to join the parade which wound through Martinsburg.

The thought and planning showed, as the ceremony went off without a hitch. The graduates got their celebratory ceremony, the teachers got to say goodbye and the parents got to cry.

Note: Helena Bassler, daughter of Herald owners Allan and Karen Bassler, shot and edited a brief video of the 2020 Graduation Promenade. It can be viewed at the Herald's website at http://www.mcheraldonline.com. Navigate to the website and search for "Central High School 2020 Graduation Ceremony and Parade."