Outdoor graduations planned again for South Bend high schools

Outdoor graduations planned again for South Bend high schools
Posted on 03/19/2021
Four winds

Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings, together with district leadership, announces plans to honor graduating Class of 2021

South Bend Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings announced today that the district will again host outdoor, in-person graduation ceremonies at Four Winds Field for the five SBCSC high schools on Friday, June 4, Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6. The rain date is Sunday, June 6 for all schools. Additionally, the Adult Education program, which typically holds its graduation ceremonies inside a high school, will also hold its ceremony at Four Winds Field.

Cummings made the announcement from Four Winds Field on Friday afternoon, together with Chief Academic Officer Brandon White, central office administrators, members of the school board, and high school principals. Due to the pandemic's ongoing impact on in-person events, district leadership opted for the outdoor baseball stadium, which can accommodate the graduates and their guests safely.

"As always, we will closely monitor the most current state and local health guidance, but for the time being, we want the Class of 2021 to be excited about the "pomp and circumstance" of an in-person graduation ceremony outside," Cummings said.

The corporation will continue to enforce the health protocols provided by the St. Joseph County Health Department to reduce the risk of COVID 19 exposure. Those measures include limiting the number of guests each student may invite; and requiring all participating graduates, staff, and guests to wear masks and use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the venue. Those in high-risk groups are requested not to attend in-person and instead watch the live stream.

"We are looking forward to another great weekend of celebrating our graduates, and we will have more details to share with families in the coming weeks," Cummings said.

The schedules for the graduations are:

Tech rehearsals - Wednesday, June 2, 2021, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m;

Rise Up Academy - Friday, June 4, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (doors open at 4:00 p.m.)

John Adams High School - Friday, June 4, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:45 p.m.)

Adult Education - Saturday, June 5, 9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.)

Clay High School - Saturday, June 5, 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)

Washington High School - Saturday, June 5, 2021 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 2:00 p.m.)

Riley High School - Sunday, June 6, 3:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:00 p.m.)

Contact: George Jones, Associate Director of Communications, at [email protected] or 574-315-2329