CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s three high schools have come up with creative ways to celebrate this year’s graduating class in light of COVID-19 public health restrictions.
Students, teachers and parents have already gone the extra mile since all 19 Catholic schools in the diocese nimbly shifted to online learning in mid-March, as the coronavirus pandemic reached North Carolina. Now as the end of the school year nears, online learning is continuing apace and school leaders are making plans to honor the Class of 2020. All 19 Catholic schools will close out the 2019-’20 academic year by the first week of June.
In what will be a first for the diocese, Bishop Peter Jugis will offer a baccalaureate Mass for all three graduating classes, livestreamed from St. Patrick Cathedral to the diocese’s YouTube channel on May 28. Seniors and their families and friends will be able to watch online and hear the bishop’s special message to them as they prepare to graduate from Catholic school and move on to the next stage of their lives.
School leaders have been taking other celebrations to their seniors – with drive-through events, home visits and lots of video conferencing and virtual activities.
“Our administrative team drove a collective 400 square miles and six to eight hours each to deliver (Class of 2020) yard signs, caps and gowns and a cupcake on May 1 to celebrate our seniors making their decisions regarding college next year,” said Bishop McGuinness High School’s Principal Tracy Shaw.
“Normally, this would have been a big celebration at school, so we took it on the road! The seniors were excited to be recognized and see someone from school. We miss them all so much and it was so nice to be able to see and speak with them – socially distanced, of course,” she said.
The Kernersville high school will have a “graduation parade” at 6:30 p.m. June 5 on the school campus. Seniors and their families are being encouraged to decorate their cars and drive through the school parking lot, stopping to get their diploma and take pictures.
Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte held a drive-through yearbook, cap and gown pick-up May 16 on the school campus. Staff, teachers and guidance counselors lined up along the route to congratulate seniors and their families and pass out graduation materials and snack bags.
A highlight every year for Charlotte Catholic seniors is seeing the “baby wall” with photos of them in their early years. This year, the “baby wall” was displayed on the sports stadium fencing for the Class of 2020 to view as they came through the drive-through line.
“Saturday`s cap and gown and yearbook pick-up was wonderful,” said Principal Kurt Telford. “Dean of Students Randy Belk organized the day. The PTO provided Chick-fil-A for the seniors and the faculty volunteers.”
“I am glad that the staff was able to interact with so many of the students,” he added. “Although the students remained in their vehicles, teachers, administrators and volunteers were able to cheer for them. I am excited to be able to see the students again at graduation on May 29.”
As of press time, Charlotte Catholic was still in the process of finalizing specifics for graduation. Organizers hope to have an in-person graduation ceremony at the school’s stadium, which has enough space to keep families socially distanced. Other options include a “rolling” graduation event where seniors and their families come to campus at assigned times to receive their diplomas and take photos, or a virtual graduation recorded and shared on May 29.
Christ the King High School in Huntersville also celebrated the Class of 2020 with home deliveries of yard signs. Staff visited their graduating seniors’ homes to acknowledge their hard work and celebrate their achievements.
“On May 8, members of the faculty and staff surprised each graduate with special lawn signs,” said Dr. Carl Semmler, principal. “A parade of cars arrived at the home of each graduate, a token of love was placed on the lawn and a symphony of car horns and cheers ensued.”
Graduation was originally scheduled for May 30 at Davidson College, Semmler said, but “after consultation with our stakeholders and in response to the most recent information from the governor’s office, we have decided to move graduation to June 6.”
By then, he said, “it is our hope that this will place us safely within the (governor’s) Phase 2 reopening plan.” If social distancing guidelines allow at that time, an in-person graduation could be held on the school lawn, he said.
In case graduation cannot be held in person, the school will have a drive-through ceremony and share recorded graduation speeches from Debbie Mixer, Catholic Schools’ interim superintendent; Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor; Father John Putnam, the high school’s chaplain; and Jack Zuhosky, the school’s Class of 2020 representative.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Watch the baccalaureate Mass online
A baccalaureate Mass offered by Bishop Peter J. Jugis for the Class of 2020 of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte and Christ the King High School in Huntersville will be streamed live online starting at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, May 28.
The private Mass from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte is being offered in lieu of in-person baccalaureate Masses this year due to COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings. To watch the livestreamed Mass, go to the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte.
GREENSBORO — Students at Our Lady of Grace School had some special visitors during National Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 3-9.
During that week the school had five speakers address the students: a priest, a deacon, a religious sister and a married couple who all spoke about their vocations and how they live them out.
Father Michael Carlson, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church, spent time at the school speaking to students from grades K-8 about his vocation and what it means for him to serve God as a priest.
Students also heard from Deacon Mark Mejias, one of the permanent deacons at the parish. He shared about the sacramental process of becoming a deacon.
Sister Mary Raphael, of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother religious community in Gastonia, spoke to the students about vocations to the consecrated life and shared with them the importance of prayer. Katie and Shaun Kilgariff, parents of three OLG School students, spoke about the sacrament of marriage.
During National Vocations Awareness Week, the school also began each day praying for vocations and each class wrote to the diocesan seminarians they have adopted in prayer.
— Photos provided by Paola Scilinguo
