Clovis Unified announces graduation plans for class of 2021. Here’s how it will work

Clovis Unified announced graduation plans for seniors on Wednesday, which will include each high school having one ceremony for all of its graduating class.

Graduates will be spaced out on stadium fields and attendees will sit on both sides of the bleachers due to social distancing requirements. Masks will be required, officials said. The ceremony will include traditional speeches, music and fireworks.

Graduates will receive six tickets for family and friends to attend the ceremony, officials said. Students can get an extra two tickets if there is proof of vaccination. The events will also be livestreamed.

The schedule is as follows:

• May 26 Clovis East High School, Lamonica Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• May 27 Clovis High School, Lamonica Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• May 28 Alternative Education, Mercedes Edwards Theatre, 1:30-6 p.m.*
• May 28 Clovis Adult Education, drive-thru in parking lot, 9 a.m.*
• May 29 Clovis Online School, Mercedes Edwards Theatre, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.*
• June 1 Clovis North High School, Veterans Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• June 2 Clovis West High School, Veterans Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
• June 3 Buchanan High School, Veterans Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

*Individual student graduations.

The district is also moving forward with other senior activities, such as prom and award presentations, according to the district.

“Listening to our students’ requests to come together to celebrate with classmates, under the lights in our beautiful stadiums, and to have their families there to see them cross the stage was a driving force behind our work with public health officials,” said Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell in a statement.

“While there will still be health and safety and some distancing requirements in place, along with capacity limits determined by Fresno County’s tier conditions in late May, traditional ceremonies attended by graduates and members of their household, and held in the evenings at our stadiums, can now be a reality.”

On Tuesday, Fresno County dropped into the orange tier under the state’s color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This tier represents “moderate” transmission of the virus, and indicates the county’s transmission rates for COVID-19 have been dropping in recent weeks, allowing more businesses to reopen and more events to be held.

Last year, ceremonies were individualized, and students and their families met with principals over a week to be presented with their diploma.

This story was originally published April 21, 2021 at 2:01 PM.