ROCHELLE – With the current social distancing guidelines and the recent decision to extend school closures, Rochelle Township High School has found a way to abide by all CDC recommendations, while still honoring as many students as it can in the safest way possible.

To honor as many 2020 graduating seniors as possible, before they move onto the next chapter in their life such as the workforce or military, RTHS has plans to hold a modified outdoor graduation ceremony and a virtual prom.  The virtual prom will be held on Saturday, May 16 and the graduation ceremony will be held as scheduled on Saturday, May 23.

For the current ceremony plans, students will drive up with their families dressed in their cap and gown. Then, the student will be able to get out of the vehicle to walk up on a stage to receive their diploma and hear their name read aloud. Parents will be able to take photos and videos from the vehicle and then the next student and family will come through. 

The school will be filming the entire ceremony to put together a traditional graduation video afterward and has also partnered with WRHL radio to livestream the event on the radio and online. 

Another way the school is honoring its seniors, is by including signs to put in the family’s front lawn with the cap and gown the student receives. While the school knows this will be very different, it is the safest way to honor as many possible students. 

“We want the kids to dress up and have that moment where they walk across the stage and the parents hear their kids name read aloud,” said Jason Harper, district superintendent. “We want to give that opportunity to as many students as we can, before they start moving on.” 

Prom

The school is still working on many details for the virtual prom, but knows for certain that it will be partnering with WRHL to provide the best possible prom experience. WRHL will play student selected music and read off the nominations for prom court royalty in the junior and senior classes.

Students will be able to dress up and take pictures, then later in the night, WRHL will announce the prom court winners. While the school understands this is far from normal, it is doing everything it can to provide the tradition of prom to its students during these very different times. 

“We are trying to honor our students with as many ways as we can, while providing all of our students an opportunity to participate,” said Harper.  

As for final examinations, students will not be taking formal tests and will be receiving more project-based assignments as teachers see fit. Teachers will be assigning work and assessments through the end of the school year at their own discretion.