BY ANNISTON WEBER
Hays High School has set its graduation for 10 a.m. this Saturday in the student parking lot outside of the front entrance to the school.
The graduating class of 2020 consists of 175 seniors.
Families of the students who plan to attend the ceremony are strongly encouraged to wear face masks and social distance from other individuals not in their household. Students participating in the ceremony will also be asked to wear masks. Parking attendants will be on-hand to direct traffic.
In addition to a stage for the graduates to walk across, Hays High will set up two small tents for those with special needs and parents or guardians who wish to be closer to their graduating students.
All other guests are asked to sit in the student parking area. Individuals can bring their own chairs from home or use chairs that have been loaned to the school by the Wild West Festival committee.
For those sitting in the parking lot, the ceremony will be projected onto a large outdoor screen. The event will also be livestreamed on the Hays High School website for individuals who can’t attend.
Hays High Principal Martin Straub said the business “Grad Images” will be taking professional photos at the ceremony. Parents will be sent a link to the picture proof of their student to be purchased.
Hays High’s Channel 13 will record and sell the program in DVD format as a Channel 13 fundraiser. Parents or students interested in purchasing a copy of the program should contact Dan Balman at dbalman@usd489.com after July 25.
In the event of inclement weather, Straub said the ceremony will be relocated to HHS Gym A. However, if the ceremony is relocated indoors, the school will have to restrict the number of guests to no more than four per student.
Students participating in the graduation ceremony will be able to practice for the event on Friday at 9 a.m. in front of the main HHS entrance. Caps and gowns are not required for practice.
Graduating seniors and guardians should have received an email with additional details of the graduation. Anyone who has additional questions about the ceremony can contact HHS at (785) 623-2600 or Martin Straub at mstraub@usd489.com.