{"id":32836,"date":"2020-05-14T05:01:50","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T10:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=32836"},"modified":"2020-05-13T15:51:29","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T20:51:29","slug":"digital-ceremonies-drive-ins-and-delays-mark-oklahoma-high-school-graduation-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2020\/05\/14\/digital-ceremonies-drive-ins-and-delays-mark-oklahoma-high-school-graduation-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital ceremonies, drive-ins and delays mark Oklahoma high school graduation celebrations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.simplecast.com\/c57b6d05-0968-4091-8f66-2aee16d7f1ab?dark=false\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Howe High School graduation wasn\u2019t supposed to be at dusk in the shadow of Poteau\u2019s Cavanal Mountain.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There weren\u2019t supposed to be funnel cakes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There weren\u2019t supposed to be car horns.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But COVID-19 created a need for a different kind of graduation ceremony for the tiny Oklahoma town\u2019s graduating class of 39. So, it was moved from the gymnasium to a nearby drive-in movie theater.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe drive-in brings about a dynamic that nobody expected,\u201d Howe Superintendent Scott Parks said. \u201cThey\u2019re all getting funnel cakes and popcorn and there are soft drinks.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parks said that Howe will have some sort of celebration for its graduates at a later date when social distancing isn\u2019t a necessity. But they had to have something now.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSome folks can\u2019t wait,\u201d he said. \u201cSeniors are going to go out and get jobs, going off to school. They may not be available at a later date.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32838\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 672px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32838\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-672x378.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-672x378.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333-620x349.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_20200511_202333.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Logan Layden \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Howe Schools Superintendent Scott Parks (foreground) sits with Howe teacher and his wife Tammy Parks and their son Carson Parks, as they prepare for the start of Howe High School&#8217;s graduation. Tammy Parks recorded the ceremony on Facebook live.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>Altering plans around Oklahoma<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The novel coronavirus has changed a lot of graduation plans throughout Oklahoma. Normally, a community\u2019s staple spring event, the global pandemic has altered plans.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Districts across Oklahoma are taking a wide range of approaches to honor graduates. That includes ways outside the ceremonies.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yard signs across the state are dotting green spaces. Downtowns are covered in banners. And online &#8211; where many students have been attending school since after spring break &#8211; is filled with thousands of tributes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But nothing can substitute an actual graduation ceremony.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smaller districts are finding creative ways like drive-in gatherings and car parades to celebrate graduates. Many suburban districts like Edmond and Moore are simply delaying their in-person events. While the state\u2019s biggest district Oklahoma City is celebrating digitally like many others. Superintendent Sean McDaniel says schools will host virtual graduations in a video sent out to graduating seniors.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is not ideal,\u201d he said in the message to graduates. \u201cIt\u2019s not what we would hope for. But we want to make sure we can do everything we can to honor you.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said during a weekly call with school leaders across the state that graduation is an important cultural ceremony and schools should try to be creative to honor graduates.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAny sort of virtual ceremony, drive-in ceremony, mobile parade where our social distancing is possible, it is allowable and encouraged,\u201d she said on the call.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, she cautioned district leaders to stay safe. And discouraged any in-person ceremonies before June 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School districts were technically able to allow in-person graduations with proper social distancing after May 15 as outlined by Governor Kevin Stitt\u2019s plan to re-open.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Putting<\/b> things<b> in person<\/b><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cache High School, 15 miles west of Lawton, is planning to host its graduation ceremony in its football stadium next week. Superintendent Chad Hance says the ceremony is too important to skip, and moving it past June first wasn\u2019t practical.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe owed it to our senior class to try to do something good for them,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cache has put together an extensive plan designed to keep people properly distanced and safe. Hand sanitizing stations will be spread about the stadium. The crowd will sit two yards apart on the field while the 130 graduates are spread apart in the stands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe last thing we want is to be the reason why somebody gets sick,\u201d Hance said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s something that weighs heavy on our mind. But, you know, we also kind of realized this is going to be around a long time so we\u2019re going to have to make adjustments to just kind of live with it.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The adjustments might seem extreme. But Hance said other school districts have reached out as they explore similar options moving forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32840\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 467px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32840\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-467x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"467\" height=\"672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-467x672.jpg 467w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-1335x1920.jpg 1335w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-768x1105.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-104x150.jpg 104w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-620x892.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254-751x1080.jpg 751w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2020\/05\/Resized_Resized_20200506_215254.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Courtesy Connor Morris<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Howe High School Salutatorian Connor Morris.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every Oklahoma high school is in a tough place, trying to figure out to honor their senior students, he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morris, the Howe salutatorian, said the scenario is upsetting. But it will make perfect storytelling material in the future.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo one could have ever imagined their own graduation up on their local drive-in\u2019s theater screen or livestreamed through Facebook,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it will make a nice little story to tell our children or grandchildren decades from now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Howe High School graduation wasn\u2019t supposed to be at dusk in the shadow of Poteau\u2019s Cavanal Mountain.There weren\u2019t supposed to be funnel cakes.There weren\u2019t supposed to be car horns.But COVID-19 created a need for a different kind of graduation ceremony for the tiny Oklahoma town\u2019s graduating class of 39. So, it was moved from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":32839,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17],"tags":[1223],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32836"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32836"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32843,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32836\/revisions\/32843"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}