BHS graduation slated for 8:30 Saturday morning at Buckaroo Stadium
The Breckenridge High School Class of 2020 will wrap up the unexpected and non-traditional year with one final out-of-the-ordinary event — a graduation ceremony in the time of coronavirus and social distancing.
A week or two later than usual but 10 or 12 hours earlier than usual, the BHS 2020 Graduation will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, in Buckaroo Stadium.
The morning ceremony was planned by Breckenridge Independent School District officials to try and avoid the extreme heat on the football field’s artificial turf late in the day. On Saturday, the temperature is forecast for 99 degrees.
At a special school board meeting on May 19, BHS Principal William Paul explained that the turf absorbs heat throughout the day. He quoted a study from Pennsylvania State University that found the temperature of the turf can reach 150 degrees or higher during the summer.
Any indoor options for the ceremony would have severely limited the number of people who could attend.
With the outdoor event, each graduating senior has been allotted a maximum of 10 guest tickets, which are assigned to specific spots in the bleachers in groups of 5. The guests will be spread out in the stands to ensure social distancing, as required by the Texas Education Agency.
The school district had an additional 200 tickets that they made available to the general public. Many of those tickets have been claimed, but a few may still be available. To request a ticket, call BHS at 254-212-4730.
Those attending the graduation will need to fill out a form stating whether or not they have any symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc. The forms were mailed to the seniors and are available at the high school. Those who have symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to attend the event.
Because the schools were closed for much of the spring semester, the students did not get to participate in the traditional awards ceremony, so Saturday’s event will include that ceremony, as well.
The graduates need to be in place at the stadium at 7:45 a.m. Saturday. The students need to park on the south side of the high school and enter through the southwest gate, between LT Cook Gym and the junior high. That entrance will be for students only.
The gates will open to the public at 8 a.m. Visitors need to park on the north side of the stadium and enter through the northwest (home side) or northeast (visitor side) gates, depending on where their assigned seats are. Visitors must have their tickets and the health form with them.
School officials will be on-hand to direct traffic and help guide guests to their seats. Guests and students will exit the stadium the same way they came in.
The following schedule is planned:
- 7:45 a.m. — Students in place
- 8:00 a.m. — Guests arrive
- 8:30 a.m. — Ceremony begins with student entrance
- 8:40 a.m. — Awards ceremony
- 9:30 a.m. — Graduation begins
- 10:30 a.m. — Close
For those who cannot attend the ceremony, it will be live-streamed on the BHS Facebook page and will also be available there for viewing later. Additionally, the seniors will be provided with a video of the ceremony.
For more information about the graduation plans, click here to read a previous Breckenridge Texan article; visit the Breckenridge High School Facebook page; or, call the school.
Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Image courtesy of BISD
