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High school prepares for in-person graduation ceremony

440 guests allowed in gym

High school prepares for in-person graduation ceremony

440 guests allowed in gym

THEIR PLANS FOR WHAT THEY’RE CALLING A SAFE IN PERSON GRADUATION. WHY HOLD GRADUATION? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. OUR GRADUATES HAVE ASKED FOR THIS. >> GRADUATION WILL LOOK A LOT OF DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AT WATERFORD UNION HIGH SCHOOL. BUT UNLIKE OTHER SCHOOLS, IT WONT BE VIRTUAL. >> WE DO REQUIRE EVERYONE SANITIZE THEIR HANDS, THAT EVERYONE WEAR A MASK TO THE EVENT AND IT STAYS ON DURING THE EVENT. WE HAVE ORDERED EXTRA MASKS AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A FACE COVERING. >> BLEACHERS ARE MARKED WITH SIGNS SIX FEET APART, AS WELL AS CHAIRS. ONLY TWO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR EACH STUDENT. >> OBVIOUSLY WE WI HANDSHAKES AN SHOULDER PICTURES. >> 440 GUESTS ARE ALLOWED IN THE GYM, WHICH IS LESS THAN 25 CAPACITY. STUDENTS WILL WAIT OUTSIDE IN SMALL GROUPS. 12 NEWS ASKED THE GOVERNOR IF HOLDING THIS CEREMONY IS LEGAL, -- LEGAL. >> THAT IS A DECISION THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD IS MAKING. WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT GRADUATION FALLS INTO THE CATEGORIES. FOR THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE AGAINST THIS GRADUATION, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM? WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE DID EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE THIS EVENT THE SAFEST EVENT WE CAN HAVE, OTHER THAN STAYING AT HOME. PATRICK: SARAH, HAS THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPSONDED TO THIS PLA >> I REACHED OUT, BUT THEY HAVEN’T RESPONDED. I DID SPEAK TO THE WATERFORD POLICE CHIEF WHO SAID OFFICERS WILL BE HERE TO HELP MOVE PE
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High school prepares for in-person graduation ceremony

440 guests allowed in gym

A Racine County school is planning to hold an in-person graduation ceremony Sunday. Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin"We've thought about this at great length. Our graduates have asked for this once in a lifetime event to please not be virtual," Waterford Union High School Superintendent Lucas Francois said. Graduation will look a lot of different, but unlike other schools, it won't be virtual."We do require that everybody sanitize their hands upon entering the building," Francois said. "We're also requiring that everybody wear a mask to the event and that it stays on during the event itself. If anybody doesn’t have a mask, we have ordered extra masks and will make sure that everybody has a face covering." Bleachers are marked with signs 6 feet apart, as well as chairs. Only two parents or guardians will be allowed for each student. "Obviously, we'll be forgoing the handshakes, and there won't be any shoulder to shoulder pictures taken," Francois said. Four hundred and 40 guests are allowed in the gym, which is less than 25 percent capacity. Students will wait outside in small groups.WISN 12 News asked the governor if holding the ceremony is legal. "I believe it's possible. That's a decision that a local school board is making," Gov. Tony Evers said. "The stay-at-home order was specifically instructed for extra-curricular activities, and we don't believe that graduation falls into either one of these categories," Francois said. "For the folks who live in this community who are against this graduation, what is your message to them?" WISN 12 News reporter Sarah Thamer asked. "We are doing our very best to make sure that we did everything in our power to make this event the safest event we can have other than staying at home," Francois said The Waterford police chief said officers will be here to help move people along. Sign up for coronavirus email alerts from WISNGet breaking news alerts with the WISN 12 app.Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

A Racine County school is planning to hold an in-person graduation ceremony Sunday.

Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in Wisconsin

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"We've thought about this at great length. Our graduates have asked for this once in a lifetime event to please not be virtual," Waterford Union High School Superintendent Lucas Francois said.

Graduation will look a lot of different, but unlike other schools, it won't be virtual.

"We do require that everybody sanitize their hands upon entering the building," Francois said. "We're also requiring that everybody wear a mask to the event and that it stays on during the event itself. If anybody doesn’t have a mask, we have ordered extra masks and will make sure that everybody has a face covering."

Bleachers are marked with signs 6 feet apart, as well as chairs. Only two parents or guardians will be allowed for each student.

"Obviously, we'll be forgoing the handshakes, and there won't be any shoulder to shoulder pictures taken," Francois said.

Four hundred and 40 guests are allowed in the gym, which is less than 25 percent capacity.

Students will wait outside in small groups.

WISN 12 News asked the governor if holding the ceremony is legal.

"I believe it's possible. That's a decision that a local school board is making," Gov. Tony Evers said.

"The stay-at-home order was specifically instructed for extra-curricular activities, and we don't believe that graduation falls into either one of these categories," Francois said.

"For the folks who live in this community who are against this graduation, what is your message to them?" WISN 12 News reporter Sarah Thamer asked.

"We are doing our very best to make sure that we did everything in our power to make this event the safest event we can have other than staying at home," Francois said

The Waterford police chief said officers will be here to help move people along.

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