SFHS Class of 2020 graduates Friday

While there was a time in the past several weeks when South Fulton High School seniors wondered if any type of graduation ceremony would be in their future, to close out their final year of high school and receive the coveted diploma, with a few tweaks, the Class of 2020 will walk the stage in the SFHS gymnasium this Friday evening.

According to South Fulton High School Principal Kimberly Jackson, great pains have been taken to assure the safety of the graduates, as well as those who will attend the ceremony May 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the only point of entry at the rear of the school, through the doors customarily used by those attending Red Devil basketball games.

In an interview Monday, Mrs. Jackson explained the protocol for this year’s graduation event.

Only seniors will be seated in chairs on the gym floor, observing social distancing for chair placement.

“No one except the seniors will be on the gym floor at any time that night,” Mrs. Jackson said.

“Each senior was given six tickets, to distribute to family and friends. Anyone entering the school that night must have a ticket, even young children,” she said. Tickets will be taken in the lobby by Junior class officers and school staff, prior to gym entry.

Once in the gym, those in attendance are asked to immediately find seating with family/friend groups of six sitting together in pre-determined areas on the bleachers.

“We have blue tape on areas of both sides of bleachers. The family groups of six may sit anywhere, together, where there is no blue tape. We measured off areas to adequately fit six people. So, anywhere there is no blue tape, the groups may sit together,” Mrs. Jackson said.

She said she wanted to make sure family members understood they were to immediately find a seat on the bleachers, and not remain, or mingle throughout the gym.

Seniors will enter the stage, with Obion County Director of Schools Tim Watkins, Obion County School Board member Tim Britt, Mrs. Jackson and Guidance Counselor Whitney Pope providing an area on stage for seniors to secure their diplomas, minus the traditional hand shake.

One tradition, however, will be observed with the presentation of a rose to each graduate.

Graduates will make their way to the edge of the stage, where they will pause for a photography taken by one photographer. At no time will any family, friends, or others be allowed to approach the stage, or make their way onto the gym floor, for photographs.

Once all graduates have received their diplomas, they will exit the gym and return to the cafeteria, at which time all spectators will exit the gym onto the school parking lot, where photos may then be made, at the discretion of families.

“It’s going to be different. We hope everyone will understand we are doing the best we can do, in this circumstance. The four senior class sponsors will also be on hand that night, but no other faculty will be in the gym, just to make sure we keep our numbers where they should be. We have 49 seniors, and so with each of them getting six tickets, we should have plenty of room for everyone to spread out in the gym and keep it at about 300,” Jackson said.

The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will provide their addresses to classmates and guests, with those rankings to be announced on Class Night, and to be published in the May 27 edition of The Current, along with designations for students earning Honors and Challenge Graduate status.

On Thursday night, May 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Senior Class Night will be observed, through utilizing an FM transmitter, on the school campus parking lot, for the announcement of honors awarded to seniors, and then seniors may drive through the bus lane in the front entrance of the school, where they will receive a bag containing their awards.

The public may attend the class night event, by parking on the school parking lot at the designated time, and having access to honors announced over FM transmitter.