Thirty-three Neelyville graduates will have a non-traditional ceremony tonight in lieu of the originally scheduled commencement. The district has also announced a prom date.
Prior to the closure of schools due to COVID-19, they were scheduled to be walking across the stage to receive their diploma Saturday. While under current regulations that still could have happened with some limitations, the district decided to continue with a virtual graduation in the hopes of having a fully-traditional ceremony later in the summer.
Saturday’s virtual graduation will be live-streamed on the district’s website at http://www.neelyville.k12.mo.us/ at 6 p.m. It will remain on the website for families who are unable to watch at the scheduled time.
The video will include speeches from High School Principal Justin Dobbins, Superintendent Debra Parish, Salutatorian Emily Dollins and Valedictorian Taylor Asher. After the speeches, the video features pictures of the graduates in their caps and gowns.
An in-person graduation is scheduled for June 6. It could be subject to regulations based on the situation at the time. A kindergarten parade is scheduled for earlier in the same day.
Parish said the district has scheduled prom for Monday, June 29, at the Westwood Center.
The Center has said they can have a grand march, Parish said, if regulations allow.