The graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 will go on at River Falls High, albeit virtually. In a letter posted to the school district website as well as to Facebook, the River Falls School District announced that the hoped for traditional graduation wouldn’t be possible on account of risk as determined from the health department , but that this didn’t mean that things were cancelled.

“Dear Class of 2020 Students and Parents,” the missive began. “Our intent of our senior leadership team to have a mid-July ceremony was with the hope and intention that we could have some resemblance of a traditional face-to-face graduation for our outgoing seniors.” Going on to say that it was “in constant consultation” with the Pierce County Health Department and that both Pierce and St. Croix counties had recently moved their COVID-19 risk level to “high,” the letter stated that the safest and most responsible thing to do was to have a virtual graduation ceremony followed up with an optional drive through staging ceremony on July 17th.

“Our district is slowly making progress by bringing back small groups of summer school students in a very controlled, covidmitigated, and risk-reduced manner,” the letter went on. “Large group gatherings are to be avoided, and we simply cannot meet these safety guidelines while having a face-to-face ceremony with over 250 students and their families.” Given these realities, those who wish to attend or watch the River Falls Class of 2020 graduation ceremony should keep the following date and times in mind for this year’s graduation at River Falls. On Friday July 17th, 2020, the following will occur:

• 11:45 a.m. – all links for virtual ceremony and livestream staging will be released via email, YouTube, the River Falls School District’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, and on its website at www.rfsd.k12.wi.us/.

• 12:00 p.m. – Virtual ceremony with speeches by students Alexandra Samargia and Sophia Schmidt, along with Superintendent Jamie Benson and Principal Kit Leudtke. A photo slideshow will also be included to honor the River Falls Class of 2020 as individuals, not just a whole.

• 3:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – River Falls graduating seniors for the Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across an outdoor stage out the main commons to have their names read and photos taken, with parents and guardians given “a socially designated space” to take pictures, and professional photographers photos will be available on the school website free of charge. The ceremony will be livestreamed on YouTube as well for those unable to attend.

Included in the letter guidelines for the Livestreamed ceremony are a few guidelines, along with the line-up order, which follows:

• From 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., RFHS Graduates Accola through Fritz

• From 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., RFHS Graduates Gallagher through Kittleson

• From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., RFHS Graduates Klechefski through Olivier

• From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., RFHS Graduates Olson through Snow

• From 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., RFHS Graduates Sos through Ziebarth.

It is not necessary to be in perfect alphabetical order, but graduating seniors are asked to arrive early in their designated window time to make things work smoothly. In addition, a social distance of 10 feet will be in place outdoors “in all lines and staging procedures,” and one vehicle per graduate including family members will be allowed in the drive-thru ceremony. At most one other occupant besides the graduate will be allowed to leave the vehicle for pictures, upon the completion of which they will proceed back inside of it. Each vehicle will enter the school grounds in the East parking lot from Lilac Avenue and exit thru the West entrance of the school campus onto Cemetery Road. There will be no lingering on school grounds for additional photos. Speaking of which, don’t forget your pre-mailed diploma for photos!

More information is available in the letter posted to the school district’s website and Facebook page.