Maricopa High School planning in-person graduation

As the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic begins to loosen, signs of a return to normalcy are emerging around town.

One of those signs is the commencement ceremony being planned for the Class of 2021 at Maricopa High School.

In a letter to seniors and their families, principal Deana McNamee indicated the school is organizing an in-person graduation for more than 700 students on May 26 at 7:30 p.m. on the football field.

While the Wednesday evening ceremony will be in-person, there still are significant concessions being made to health and safety protocols. Each senior will be limited to just two guests, but McNamee’s letter indicated that number could increase if warranted by health data closer to the event.

No mention of a mask requirement at the ceremony was mentioned in the letter.

According to the letter, graduates must attend the rehearsal at 7:30 a.m. the day of graduation or they will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. That evening, the gym doors will open for graduates beginning at 6 p.m. and everyone participating must be in the gym by 6:30, when the doors will be locked.

The school still hopes to conduct many of the traditional activities associated with Senior Week but is not officially scheduling them yet, the letter said. The school will communicate further with families closer to graduation when it can be determined whether health and safety data support being able to hold the events, McNamee wrote.