Normal Graduation Ceremonies For Polk Seniors During Pandemic

POLK COUNTY, FL — Graduating seniors enrolled in Polk County Public Schools District will experience normal graduation ceremonies in May and June with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.

"We are truly looking forward to celebrating our graduating seniors and all of their hard work,” Tami Dawson, regional assistant superintendent for high schools, said. “This has been another unusual and challenging year, but we want to do our best to preserve important rites of passage like graduation ceremonies. While honoring our students, we must also stay vigilant in keeping up the fight against COVID-19.”

According to school officials, the following health precautions will be taken during all graduations to ensure the safety of graduates, their guests and school district staff:

• Graduates will receive four tickets each for family members or guests. Limiting the number of guests and assigning seats will help ensure social distancing.
• There will be assigned check-in times to prevent crowds forming to get into the graduation venues.
• Temperature screenings and security checks will be conducted as individuals enter.
• Everyone will be required to wear face coverings, including graduates.
• Graduates will be socially distanced during the ceremony.
• There will be no handshakes.
• Ceremonies will be condensed to approximately one hour to limit exposure.
• Graduates, guests and staff members are being reminded that graduation ceremonies are not mandatory. Anyone who does not feel safe should not attend.

RP Funding Center in Lakeland will host most of the graduation ceremonies. For family members unable to attend in-person, the ceremonies will be livestreamed on the school district’s YouTube channel.

Three high schools are planning to host their ceremonies at their home stadiums: Auburndale High, Fort Meade Middle-Senior and Frostproof Middle-Senior.

Visit polkschoolsfl.com/graduation for a complete list of all PCPS graduation ceremonies, including its dates, times, and venues.