Bixby High Schedules 2020 Commencement
Courtesy Bixby Public Schools
After careful consideration of multiple scenarios for conducting the Bixby High School Class of 2020 Commencement, the district has decided to move forward with a modified traditional event at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, June 13. The rain date will be Sunday, June 14. The original graduation, which had been rescheduled for June 27 at ORU’s Mabee Center, has been canceled.
To allow for family participation in this once-in-a-lifetime event, three events we will be staggered. By hosting the event outside and staggering the graduation ceremonies, the school will have adequate space to provide a safe distance between students and guests while complying with all OKSDE (Oklahoma State Department of Education) and CDC guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These considerations will enhance the safety of all participants by limiting direct exposure between guests outside of immediate families.
The three ceremonies will be conducted at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. Each senior will be allowed to invite up to ten guests to attend their ceremony.
The ceremonies will also be broadcast live to enable viewing by friends and family members who are unable to attend the event and/or belong to a vulnerable population.
The leadership of Bixby High School would like to thank our students and families for their patience and understanding during this difficult time. The Class of 2020 is an exemplary group of students who have achieved much success during their time at BHS. We are immensely proud of these students and look forward to giving them a meaningful and memorable graduation ceremony they so richly deserve.
For the event, students and BHS staff members will be seated on the field, with guests seated on either side of the stadium. The majority of each ceremony will be live, yet some portions may be pre-recorded and played via video screen on the field.
While this final plan is not ideal, it allows BHS seniors to have a traditional ceremony and walk across a stage to receive their diploma. Moving the event up by two weeks will also permit participation by more BHS students, as a late June or July graduation would exclude some graduates who are entering the Armed Services or otherwise unable to participate.
Finally, it also has the benefit of bringing students together to celebrate this important milestone at their home stadium – a place of pride for many Spartan students.
