Brownstown Central High School Announces Plans For Virtual Graduation

(BROWNSTOWN) – Brownstown Schools Superintendent Tim Taylor announced plans for a virtual graduation ceremony.

In a letter to students, parents and community members posted on the Brownstown Schools Facebook page, officials are preparing to have a nontraditional ceremony on Saturday, May 23rd.

The prerecorded virtual ceremony will be available on YouTube at 10 a.m. that day through a link provided on the corporation’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

The “ever-evolving plan” also would include a parade ceremony, Taylor added.

The prerecorded virtual portion would follow the program of a traditional graduation, including:

  • “The Star-Spangled Banner” (BCHS Band of Braves recording)
  • Processional to “Pomp and Circumstance” (with senior pictures)
  • Senior welcome (video recording of senior representative)
  • Senior speech (video recording of senior representative)
  • Senior choir solo (video recording of a senior choir member)
  • Presentation of the class for graduation by Sheffer
  • Reading of graduate names by Sheffer (with cap and gown picture submitted by each student and a picture of their diploma)
  • Tassel ceremony (video recording of the senior class president)
  • Senior band solo (video recording of a senior band member)
  • Senior farewell (video recording of senior representative)
  • Recessional (pictures of seniors tossing their cap)

Taylor said medals and tassels will be mailed to graduates as soon as possible.

Planning is currently underway for the parade portion of graduation, which would be at 12:30 p.m. on May 23 and include the presentation of diplomas.

Throughout all portions of the program, the Indiana State Department of Health guidelines for social distancing will be honored, he said.

“Our first choice, like yours, would be to have the traditional graduation ceremony on the scheduled date of Saturday, May 23, but the COVID-19 virus and social distancing restrictions have hampered those plans at present,” Taylor wrote in the Facebook post.

“However, should the Indiana State Department of Health guidelines with regard to social distancing be loosened in the next month, we would give consideration to a traditional ceremony if it did not put the health of our students and community members at risk and could be carried out in a reasonable time frame,” he added. “The health and well-being of our students and community will remain our top priority.”

He expressed thanks to the parents for their patience and understanding as the corporation prepares a graduation ceremony worthy of their children during these uncertain times.

“Please be assured that the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony and the culmination of their BCCSC academic careers is of great importance to all of us,” Taylor wrote. “Like you, we are proud of our graduates and their accomplishments, and we look forward to celebrating them each year.”