Traditional high school graduation ceremonies to some degree could take place in August for Manteca Unified seniors.
The decision shared with graduating seniors and their parents on Friday by Senior Director of Secondary Education Clara Schmiedt was based on separate surveys conducted of seniors and their parents.
“Overwhelmingly, the results were clear,” Schmiedt wrote in her letter to the Class of 2020. “You and your parents want a traditional graduation in August.”
Graduation ceremonies were originally scheduled for the last week of this month before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether traditional ceremonies will take place in whatever manner public health officials may allow in August is far from a sure thing. What Friday’s announcement does is set the stage for proceeding with planning for last week of school celebrations based on social distancing as well as allow planning to start on strategies for August ceremonies.
The fact actual ceremonies can’t be nailed down is typical of almost every aspect of ending the current school year and starting the next.
The question of whether it will be possible to play football — or any other high school sport this fall — is also far from being decided. The California Interscholastic Federation is toying with the idea of a winter football season if games can’t be played in the fall.
Football is a huge money maker that helps provide financial support a number of other sports making it the linchpin of what will unfold in terms of high school sports during the 2020-2021 school year. Should that scenario be pursued it creates other questions such as whether girls’ and boys’ basketball — the next largest source of revenue from paid attendance — would be played concurrently.
It also would mean other fall sports would need to be either shifted or cancelled.
“We are waiting for state guidance just like every (other school district),” Manteca Unified spokesperson Victoria Brunn said.
Brunn noted collegiate sports on the community level are in the same boat. It also requires all schools within leagues and conferences to agree to play meaning going ahead or shifting a sports season is not simply a local issue.
On the college level, it has already been made clear that games won’t be played without COVID-19 testing.
Football typically involves conditioning for a number of weeks prior to scheduled practices that follow CIF rules as much for safety for injury prevention as anything else.
If schools aren’t allowed to start practices as scheduled at the very least it could avoid cancellation of early season games or pushing the season into December and beyond. If a start is late enough it could make football more of a winter sport.
In a worst case scenario football would have to be cancelled.
Senior celebrations
that are being planned
Each Manteca Unified high school, will be planning a senior “drive-thru” car parade likely the last week of this month. That would allow seniors to pick up caps and gowns along with other accolades typically awarded during the graduation ceremony.
High schools are developing senior awards ceremonies and baccalaureate as virtual ceremonies in addition to other celebratory events.
Graduation seniors will receive their diplomas when they return their devices and textbooks at the end of the school year.
School sites will provide additional information in the coming weeks.
Senior Director of Elementary Education Jenni Tyson informed eighth grade parents in a letter Tuesday that the traditional eighth grade ceremonies have been cancelled. The promotion events are being adapted to meet COVID-19 guidelines and mandates “while still addressing the socio-emotional needs of our students,”
Schools will conduct “drive –through” promotion celebrations. Also plans are being made to recognize students receiving district and school awards through a digital platform. Each school will communicate directly with parents and guardians regarding suite specific details for the events.
The Manteca Unified board has extended campus closures until July 30, assuring the school district will end the current year 100 percent dependent on the distance learning model. The plan originally had been to return to physical classrooms on May 18 and complete the final two weeks of school.
The next school year is scheduled to start in some form or another — with or without distance learning or a combination of the two — on Aug. 6.
The district is also planning a robust summer school program on a virtual platform.
The Go and Grab meal service distributing breakfasts and lunches in the front of various school locations will continue until further notice meaning it will flow seamlessly into the free summer meal service.
The district continues to have unique log-ins to the Manteca Unified computer system to access lesson packets, communicate with teachers and such that exceed 90 percent of the district’s 24,000 students. A number of students that for whatever reason are not using school issued devices are picking up lesson packets at their home school or — if they are not able to be driven there for whatever reason — are having the material delivered to their homes.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
