Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors in El Dorado, and across the U.S., missed out on their graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year. Since government restrictions for large gatherings have been lessened, El Dorado High School will hold a commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Monday, July 13, at 8:00pm at Memorial Stadium.
All social distancing guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Health Department for large gatherings will be followed. Tickets will be issued to each graduate to give to family or friends to attend the ceremony. Graduates will receive the tickets at the ceremony practice on Sunday night. The number of tickets each graduate receives will be determined by the number of participating graduates. Due to the guidelines limiting seating to 66% of the capacity of the stadium, no one without a ticket will be admitted to the stadium. Balloons are not allowed at the stadium during the graduation ceremony.
Other guidelines required for large gatherings that will be followed at the graduation ceremony include:
Graduates must be 6 feet from each other and 12 feet from the audience at all times, including during line up, entering, and exiting.
Both sides of the bleachers will be open for seating to allow for social distancing.
For the audience, family members may sit together but there must be 6 feet (or one empty row) between one family and another person or group of people, and only every other row will be occupied.
Face coverings (masks) are required for everyone----graduates, school staff, and audience members age 10 and above. Graduates will be provided with matching masks.
Once graduates and audience members are seated, masks may be removed. At any time a person is out of their seat, moving around the stadium, a mask is required to be worn.
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m.
Congregating before or after the event in parking lots, lobbies, restrooms, etc. is not allowed.
Hand sanitizing stations will be present at every entrance and exit.
The podium and microphones will be sanitized between speakers.