Above: Pirate senior Kale Fairbanks shows his Pirate pride on a unique parade cycle. Kale was a workhorse of an athlete on the Napoleon football and basketball teams throughout high school.
By Jeff Steers
Special writer
Graduation plans in the works at Napoleon
On Sunday, Napoleon Community Schools sponsored a senior parade for the class of 2020. Hundreds lined the short parade route that took the seniors from Napoleon Elementary School, to the middle school, and finally past the high school, but students, parents, and Napoleon Community Schools supporters are wondering if there will be a traditional graduation ceremony.
Napoleon senior Spencer Johnson is proud to be graduating. Spencer played a big role in the success of Napoleon’s basketball team during his high school years.
Plans for a traditional graduation ceremony for Napoleon High School are up in the air due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions. The good news? Members of the administration have come up with plan B in order to try to make for a “normal graduation” for the class of 2020.
Napoleon senior Allisyn (Alli) Clark kicks back and enjoys being in the Pirate parade of graduates. Alli was a bowler and participated in the band throughout her high school years.
The school has scheduled a scaled-down graduation for Sunday, June 14, with smaller ceremonies in the cafeteria.
The school district recently announced individual graduation segments to honor the seniors. Graduates and up to four family members/guests can join the seniors as they walk across the high school cafeteria stage and receive diplomas.
“Our next-best option is to have individual segments to honor our seniors and turn those into a virtual ceremony/slide presentation similar to what other schools have already done,” administrators posted on the school’s Facebook page.
“The virtual/cafeteria event does not necessarily have to be the only commencement related event. We felt we should put something in place now in case the pandemic and restrictions worsen.”
Pirate senior Savanna Ackling waves to the crowd of onlookers at the Napoleon Class of 2020 parade of graduates. Savanna was an honor roll student and was instrumental in putting together the Napoleon High School yearbook and was active in student leadership activities.
Seniors and family members can sign up for the event using the website www.SignUpGenius.com.
A subsequent post notes that the district is looking at alternative dates and times for an in-person traditional commencement.
“We want to continue to work with families in honoring our seniors,” the post noted.
Administrators are now working with a small committee of high school seniors and senior parents on recommendations for dates to consider in planning a potential in-person/on-campus commencement for late July or early August, according to the school’s Facebook page.
“Potential restrictions will be considered in these discussions,” the post continued.
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