CLASS OF 2020

  • The Geary High School Class of 2020 celebrates in the football stands May 16 following the end of their outdoor graduation ceremony.
    The Geary High School Class of 2020 celebrates in the football stands May 16 following the end of their outdoor graduation ceremony.
  • Geary High School seniors from the Class of 2020 throw their caps into the air May 16 in the traditional salute to the end of their high school career. It was one of a few traditions that survived the revamping of the commencement ceremony, which was overhauled to meet Covid-19 restrictions on gathering sizes and attendee spacing. Maggie Base/Geary Public Schools | Watonga Republican
    Geary High School seniors from the Class of 2020 throw their caps into the air May 16 in the traditional salute to the end of their high school career. It was one of a few traditions that survived the revamping of the commencement ceremony, which was overhauled to meet Covid-19 restrictions on gathering sizes and attendee spacing. Maggie Base/Geary Public Schools | Watonga Republican

It’s a Wrap! – Geary Graduates 21 Seniors

When life – and the Covid-19 pandemic – gave the Geary High School Class of 2020 lemons, they made lemonade and some new traditions as well.

The school district knew in mid-March that spring break would be extended. Then came the news that schools would not resume in-person classes and gatherings were cancelled.

“We talked to a lot of other schools and we discussed what they were doing and what we were thinking about doing. When the governor laid out his phase-in reopening plan for the state we committed to our plan,” said Superintendent Todd Glasgow. The second phase of easing restrictions took effect May 15 and the graduation ceremony was set for 2 p.m. May 16.

The students were able to spread out in the gym the day before graduation to watch the traditional senior slide show, which features photos of the students as babies or toddlers, during their academic and sports careers and as seniors about to graduate.

Awards ceremonies and special recognitions were presented virtually, using video set to music and posted on the school’s website. Those films were made by the school counselor with help from students. Glasgow noted how pleased everyone was with the quality of the virtual ceremonies and how those production skills were encouraged by the district, hopefully leading the students into wellpaid jobs in the technology sector.

To celebrate safely and observe social distancing, the 21 graduates took their seats in the home football stands, while parents, grandparents, other family members and members of the community observed from the football field.

“They brought their lawn chairs and sat on the field, it all worked out real well,” Glasgow said.

The commencement speaker was elementary principal Sean Buchanan, a recognized motivational and educational speaker as well as a recently published author. His address went on for slightly less than 10 minutes, followed by the traditional speeches by a salutatorian, Gabe Kiener and valedictorian Max Glasgow.

“We got a lot of good feedback about this ceremony,” the superintendent said. “We may incorporate it into other graduations. They especially liked it that they got to throw their hats. I was excited they got to do that, it was really encouraging.”

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com