BROOKLINE — Interim Superintendent Ben Lummis is pleased to announce the Public Schools of Brookline will celebrate the upcoming high school graduation with a modified graduation ceremony in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The district would like to take this opportunity to recognize all of our students for their accomplishments,” said Interim Superintendent Lummis. “We are excited to honor our students with this graduation procession and while we understand that this isn’t the ceremony the Class of 2020 expected, we look forward to celebrating with them.”
WHEN:
Sunday, June 7 at noon
WHERE:
The procession will take place on Greenough Street.
Cars are asked to line up on Greenough Street or Davis Avenue based off of their pod numbers.
WHAT:
Brookline High School will be partaking in a socially-distanced graduation ceremony this weekend to honor the graduating seniors. Students and their families are invited to join in the procession by car or on foot.
Only graduates and four immediate family members are permitted to attend. All attendees must wear masks and gloves at all times.
Students will be given a “pod” number for procession purposes. The pod will designate what street the cars should line up on and at what times their arrival and procession times will be.
Pod arrival times will vary from 11:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m and procession times will vary from noon to 4:30 p.m.
Cars should pull over to the side of their designated street, either Greenough Street or Davis Avenue, upon arrival and wait for their pod’s procession. Even numbered pods will line up on Davis Avenue and should enter from either Cypress Street or Davis Avenue. Odd numbered pods should line up on Greenough Street and enter from either Somerset Road or Stanton Road.
Upon arrival cars should display the placard they were emailed clearly in the front passenger side window so that administrators can record the student’s name for the photographs and for reading of the graduate’s name.
Once a pod is called the cars will be allowed to proceed very slowly along Greenough Street as the respective students walk along the sidewalk. No one will be allowed on the far sidewalk or on Cypress Field during the event.
Students will exit their cars in front of the Schluntz Gymnasium at the intersection of Greenough and Davis and will proceed along the sidewalk through various stations. Their four immediate family members, whether they are in cars or on foot, will proceed along the outside lane of Greenough Street.
- Station 1: Students will exit their cars from passenger side and take a photo next to their car.
- Station 2: Students will pick up their diplomas from a table in front of Schluntz Gym.
- Station 3: Students will take a photo holding their diploma in front of the school banner on the main steps.
- Station 4: Students will take a photo with a cardboard cutout of Head of School Meyer.
- Station 5: Students will the have their name read aloud on the steps of BHS among faculty members. Once their names have been read students will turn to face the cameras and toss their graduation cap.
At the end of the stations students will continue to proceed down Greenough Street and rejoin their cars or group of walkers for the procession east on Tappan Street.
Drivers should be attentive for groups who may be walking. Cars and walkers will exit the procession by turning left onto Tappan Street where students and families will pass through the faculty gauntlet.
Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) will be videotaping the procession. The event will conclude by 5 p.m.
The event will be live streamed here and can be watched on BIG’s cable channels on RCN and Comcast. The event will also be broadcast on RCN Channels 3 and 613, and Comcast Channel 3.
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