Dear Parents/Guardians of 8th Graders,
Whether your graduate has been with us since the beginning of his/her school career or joined our family somewhere along the way, we hope your graduate and your family have fond memories of St. George School. We understand the disappointment and sense of loss your graduate and family may be experiencing during this difficult time. We are sad and disappointed as well. No one could have imagined when we started school in August that we would spend the fourth quarter at home in a remote learning environment. Moreover, we never anticipated when we left school on March 16 that we would not return for the last band concert and awards, the athletic awards ceremony, the 8th-grade dinner and dance, or promotion. Unfortunately, given the social distancing regulations in place through at least the end of May, we are unable to realize these activities as live, in-person events this year.
As previously announced, the band and athletic awards are being presented virtually. You will receive an email with links by early next week. The Stay-at-Home order along with the CDC guidelines for social distancing required us to develop a unique promotion ceremony for your graduate and family this year. While we understand this cannot replace an in-person ceremony, we hope you will understand we have worked diligently to ensure your child feels honored as a graduate of St. George School District No. 258.
On Monday, May 4, 2020, St. George CCSD No. 258 will hold virtual promotion ceremony at 6:30 p.m. You will receive an email, scheduled to be delivered to the email address we have on file for you, on May 4 by 6:30 p.m. The email will contain a link to the 2020 St. George CCSD No. 258 Virtual Promotion. If you need to change your email, please call Sara at (815) 933-1503 x 3136 now so that you receive the email. In addition, we have found that some email servers have blocked our emails. Please check your settings to ensure you receive emails from us.
We hope that you will watch the promotion video with your family. To truly honor your graduate, we encourage your graduate to wear his/her cap and gown. We also encourage you to take pictures of your graduate that evening and share them with us at [email protected] for posting later that week on our Facebook page.
After the ceremony, we ask that you drive to St. George School for a Parade of Graduates. Please plan to arrive at school by 7:15 p.m. Please enter on West Street just after Bennett Heating & Plumbing. Then turn East (left) onto Center Street and wait for the Parade of Graduates to begin through the main parking lot. Vehicles should exit the parade from Church Street. A rain date of Thursday, May 7 has been selected as an alternate day for the parade only. We will notify you if there is a rescheduling of the parade.
The St. George Community creates a world-class educational environment that employs technology and quality classroom instruction to help our children become global independent thinkers, lifelong learners, and productive members of society.
St. George School Staff will be lined up to wave and congratulate our SG graduates and their families. Staff will practice social distancing. It is important that families remain in their vehicles throughout the parade. We encourage our graduates to wear their caps and gowns and our families to dress in SG gear or school colors. Decorating your vehicle would be a special touch. Please have your graduate seated on the front passenger side of the vehicle. Families should create a sign with the graduate’s name placed in the front window on the passenger side.
As you finish your loop through the parking lot in your vehicle, please stop across from the school entrance for your graduate to receive his/her diploma. Please have your graduate and your family remain in the vehicle. Please see the map below.
A videographer will be present to capture the parade for your graduate and your family. Promotion programs will be mailed to your homes next week.
As a special gift for graduates, personalized yard signs will be delivered once they are received. It is our hope we will receive these prior to May 4. In addition, all graduates will receive a video of the ceremony after the footage is added from the parade.
As your graduate transitions from this phase of his/her schooling, we look forward to honoring our St. George CCSD No. 258 Class of 2020 Graduates with you through this unique ceremony.
Sincerely
Christine Johnson Helen Boehrnsen
Principal Superintendent