EDUCATION

Manitowoc Public Schools cancel more summer school activities, set graduation date

Brandon Reid
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

MANITOWOC - What was to be the second phase of summer school in the Manitowoc Public School District will not happen this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

All Enrichment courses, sports camps and other unique courses scheduled for summer school in July have been canceled, the district announced Wednesday.

“We will continue to monitor information provided from the state and county to determine if Elementary Academy (July 20-Aug. 7) and Middle School Transition week (Aug. 10-14) will be held face-to-face,” the district said. “The MPSD Summer School team is investigating online options available to all age levels and a summer school update will be provided weekly on our website and social media outlets to relay up-to-date information.”

School buildings have been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic since March 16, and students have been doing online curriculum using district-issued Chromebooks to do their work since that time. They will finish the school year amid digital learning and the last day of the school year is June 11.

The district announced the cancellation of the first phase of summer school, Wellness and Specialty Course offerings, on April 22.

Manitowoc Lincoln High School Principal Lee Thennes said in a previous Herald Times Reporter article that a Lincoln High School graduation ceremony will “come hell or high water.” Superintendent Mark Holzman said in a May 21 update that graduation is tentatively rescheduled for July 18.

“We are committed to providing a meaningful graduation ceremony,” Holzman said in the May 21 update. “Like Summer School, we will be monitoring all local, state and federal guidance about safe gatherings during the pandemic. Senior Scholarship Night was presented online last night (May 20). Thank you to all of our local civic and community organizations that provided generous scholarships — and to our MPSD employees who contributed $8,000 for student scholarships.”

Lincoln’s commencement ceremony, which dates to 1934, is a unique tradition in which graduates wear formal wear instead of a traditional cap-and-gown. The ceremony is held outside in the grassy bowl in front of the school with the historic front of the school building as a backdrop.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

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