East St. Mary schools plan outdoor graduations

The Tri-City area’s public school graduations will be held outdoors this year due to COVID-19.
The public school graduation schedule begins with Berwick on May 20 at Geisler Stadium and Morgan City and Patterson on May 21. Morgan City will hold its ceremony at 6 p.m. at Tiger Stadium, while Patterson’s ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. at Lumberjack Stadium.
Central Catholic, the Tri-City area’s first graduation ceremony and the lone nonpublic commencement exercise, will be held May 15 at 1 p.m.
“We will be following COVID protocols established by the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux during mass as well as during the graduation ceremony after mass,” Central Catholic Principal Pete Boudreaux said.
In public schools, seating capacity will be 50%. Those attending must show their ticket to enter. Masks are required as is social distancing.
“Additionally, schools will ask that families sit together and leave adequate space between family groups,” Superintendent of Schools Teresa Bagwell said. “While we remain under COVID-19 restrictions, the most important element of graduation remains, honoring and celebrating the accomplishments of our senior class.”
While 2020 presented challenges with an abrupt end to the school year, a tough ending of the high school careers for seniors and a delayed ceremony, the 2021 ceremonies will have a little more normalcy.
“I believe everyone is happier this year as graduation will take place during the traditional time period of the middle of May and more guests will be allowed to attend the mass and graduation ceremony,” Boudreaux said.
Bagwell noted that graduation is the “culminating celebration of perseverance and academic success” which signifies an important moment in students’ lives.
“In 2020, hosting a graduation ceremony for the senior class was a priority, and high schools across the district were able to celebrate despite very strict guidelines,” she said. “I think we all savored the moment when the Class of 2020 was able to walk across the outdoor stage and move their tassel to signify the transition from student to graduate. The sudden interruption to their senior year of high school was heartbreaking, and we were very excited to be able to secure that one last memorable moment for them.