Sandwich High School officials set graduation date for Class of ‘21; format to be determined

The Sandwich High School Class of 2021 will graduate May 23, with several celebrations planned in the coming weeks.

SHS Principal Tom Sodaro confirmed the graduation date, but added that school officials are still determining the format of the ceremony.

The current idea, Sodaro said, would possibly be an outdoor ceremony done in parts, where students are divided into alphabetical groups and participate in a traditional graduation ceremony.

Students would be allowed a minimal amount of guests.

“We don’t believe, at this point, that our numbers are going to allow us to have an indoor ceremony...or all 150 students at one time - unless we get to the bridge phase,” he said.

The problem, Sodaro continued, would be if COVID-19 numbers get to a point where all students could participate in a single graduation ceremony, but social distancing and crowd capacities would limit the number of guests students could invite.

“We don’t want to have all of our students together and then not allow guests,” he continued. “We’re really working on, would it be better to have three ceremonies?”

Multiple ceremonies, he said, would likely allow students to invite two guests to observe the graduation ceremony. If the school chooses this option, Sodaro and a member of the Board of Education would likely speak live, and speeches from the year’s salutatorian and valedictorian would be pre-recorded and played at each ceremony.

“We do want an in-person ceremony for students as much as possible,” Sodaro said.

The school will also be holding a prom activity on May 1, primarily for seniors. Sodaro said that the school is working with an outdoor venue to give seniors a chance to celebrate. If spacing allows, a limited number of juniors may be able to attend the gathering.

The facility, he said, features three locations, allowing for a maximum of 50 individuals at each spot and a total of 150 attendees.

Due to the size of the venue and local and state health guidelines, outside guests will not be permitted to attend the celebration.

Buses, with space for social distancing, will be used for transportation, Sodaro said.

“We’re just looking at activities at this point,” he said. Sandwich High School is still looking to hold a Prom Walk for students, but in a more socially-distanced venue, such as the SHS football field.

“We were thinking things would open up more with the bridge phase, but then the numbers started to change,” Sodaro said. “Unless we are shut down again, we are planning on having some type of prom activity.”

Tickets to prom and graduation will be available to students and families as soon as plans are finalized.