BURRILLVILLE – It won’t be your traditional celebration, but school officials say they’ve done their best to make sure it’s memorable for Burrillville’s graduating seniors.
The Burrillville High School Class of 2020 will begin a week of graduation-related activities tomorrow, picking up their caps and gowns in preparation to walk across the stage at Levy Rink next week.
But this year’s crop of graduates won’t hear applause from their peers as they complete the rite of passage.
The students have been asked to visit the rink in time slots, with no more than four family members present. Individual walks will be professionally recorded, as will speeches of honored guests, administrators, and recognized students.
The sessions will be spliced together into one virtual graduation ceremony to be shared on YoutTube on Friday, June 12 starting at 7 p.m.
First, the district will hold a virtual Senior Honor Night, presenting awards in a live broadcast on the Burrillville School Department YouTube channel on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.
On Friday, June 5, the graduates will participate in a parade through town, starting at Zambarano Hospital at 5:30 p.m.
The cavalcade of cars filled with Bronco seniors will travel along Wallum Lake Road, Church Street, High Street, Pascoag Main Street, Chapel Street, Harrisville Main Street and East Avenue before ending the route in the Burrillville High School parking lot.
A letter signed by Principal Michael Whaley, and Assistant Principals Mitchell Cournoyer and Ashley Crenca, notes that Supt. Michael Sollitto participated in multiple statewide meetings regarding graduation ceremony options.
“After considering all options and prioritizing the health and safety of our community, we have prepared a graduation ceremony for all students that will adhere to social distancing guidelines issued by the governor’s office and the Rhode Island Department of Health,” the letter stated.
To view the senior awards on Monday, visit the Burrillville School Department YouTube channel at 7 p.m. The virtual graduation ceremony
will be broadcast at the same location at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 12.
