Oconto Falls High School graduation to return to fieldhouse
It looks like the Oconto Falls High School Class of 2021 will be able to graduate in the fieldhouse after all.
The commencement ceremony for last year’s seniors was moved from the high school gymnasium to the ST Paper Stadium football field to allow for greater social distancing in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the Oconto Falls School Board’s regular April 12 meeting, Principal Dan Moore said that originally similar plans were being drafted this year for the planned May 30 graduation.
“As the administrative team, maintenance department and tech department talked about that, and the fact that we’re having some comparable events in the fieldhouse prior to then, the fact that many of the attendees should be vaccinated by the time of graduation, and given that the sound and live-streaming capability is much better in the fieldhouse, we’d like to shift the graduation to the fieldhouse,” Moore said.
Mask wearing, social distancing and other COVID mitigation practices will continue to be implemented, he said.
School Board President Ron Leja said the livestream of the ceremony from the football field left much to be desired.
“It was really challenging to see much or to hear,” Leja said. “I think it’ll be much better (in the fieldhouse).
Moore said the Senior Awards Assembly and Senior Scholarship Night, which have been held in the school auditorium in the past, are being planned for the fieldhouse, as well. The scholarship event is scheduled for May 12 and the awards assembly on May 26, the seniors’ last day of classes. Live streaming will also be part of those events.
“We’re particularly looking at seniors and some of the traditional activities that have been a part of the end of their school career,” Moore said.