Old Colony cancels prom, releases modified graduation format

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational High School has given the first glimpse as to what an in-person graduation will look like in the coronavirus era, in a letter that went out to students and families on June 26. 

The school will cancel its prom, which was planned for July 16. For the July 19 graduation, families will be limited to four guests per graduate. Guests must arrive in one vehicle. Students will be checked in by vocational specialty between 8:25 and 9:40  a.m. To eliminate contact in exchanging diplomas, students will arrive to find diplomas already on their chairs. Administrators will read the list of graduates, and each graduate will stand and display their diploma as their name is called. 

Families will be dismissed in reverse order, and should register with the school using a survey to indicate that they plan to attend. 

The school will also hold two smaller events leading up to graduation. On July 13 it will hold a socially distanced barbecue at 11 a.m. Students can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and receive and sign yearbooks. The school will provide more information as the event approaches. 

The next day at 6 p.m. the school will hold a virtual Senior Awards Night. All staff, students and families are invited to attend. 

For questions on the graduation ceremony students and families should email Jolene Costa at jcosta@OldColony.info.