ERS 2020 Graduation (some details)

Dear ERS Grad Families,

We are excited to let you know that we have a plan in place for recognizing the Grad Class of 2020.  We are working with a professional video production company to create a stunning video for our graduates.

The filming will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd at Eagle River Secondary. The flow of the day will look like this:

*10 am – 12 pm – all speeches (including opening and closing remarks) will be recorded.
*students arrive at 12 pm to the school dressed in their formal wear (valedictorians will need to be at the school by 11 am)
*students will take a socially distanced group photo outside upon arrival….they will be wearing their formal wear.
*starting at 12:30 students will be called into the gym 1-1 to ‘cross’ the stage. There will be no visitors/family accompanying the grads in the gym. Students waiting for their time in the gym will remain outside of the school. Grads will be given a cap and gown (they will be given the cap and gown as a keepsake and to use for family photos at a later date) as they enter the gym. As they cross the stage, their grad resume will be read aloud (this is being taped!).
*starting at 2:30 pm, light snacks will be provided for all grads.
*at 3:30 pm, street painting will begin.  We encourage you to bring a change of clothes so that you are NOT painting in your formal wear.
* The production company will piece together the footage to create a video of the ceremony that will be viewed at the Starlight Drive-In on Tuesday, June 23rd. The audio for the ceremony will be played out of each car’s radio – the Drive In has a dedicated frequency for guests to use (the sound will not work out of radio app…it needs to be a vehicle radio or a portable radio). The ceremony will also be posted online for you and your family members to view at a later date.

Each graduate will be given THREE tickets that will give you access to THREE vehicles at the Drive In to view the ceremony on June 23rd.  Please submit the names/driver information of the THREE vehicles that will be in attendance. Keep in mind that the THREE also includes transportation for the graduate.  The show will start at 9:30 pm (doors open 8:30 pm).  Vehicles will not be permitted into the venue without a ticket.  Please do not wear formal wear to the Drive In, and remember that this is an important achievement for all of our students and their families.

The concession will be open and washrooms are available. Families and students must stay in their allotted space other than using the washroom or one person going to the concession. Strict social distancing rules will be in effect for the protection of our families and the Drive-In staff, and because this is a school event, all school rules about the possession and use of drugs and alcohol are still in place.

Please NOTE the following information for the expectations at the Drive-In.

In support of expectations from the Provincial Health Office, we anticipate that all graduates will go home after the Drive-In. We strongly discourage all gatherings aside from this one at the Drive-In.

We will send out additional information soon about the filming. Please contact the school if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Mark Marino
Principal
Information from the Starlight Drive-In:

The following are the highlights of our operational changes.

• Limited Attendance: Capacity has been reduced drastically to accommodate social distancing. Each car will be given 20 feet of parking space. You will need to park, as directed, in the middle of said parking spot and will not be permitted to move once parked. Some of the things that people enjoy the most, open hatches, trucks parked backwards, along with sitting outside will all still be allowed – but please stay within the confines of your 20 foot parking stall.
• Limited Hours:The gates will only open 1 hour before the first show in order to get everyone parked and situated safely, this also shortens your total time at the drive in.
• Limited Activities:Some of the activities you enjoyed in the past won’t be possible until social distancing rules are relaxed, for example: ball playing, walking your dog, visiting between vehicles
• Facilities:Washrooms in the concession will have social distancing measures including limited capacity and additional porta-potties will be on site
• Concession Changes:Limited products will be available at the start the season which may be expanded depending on the success of our social distancing changes. Guests are asked to send one person from their vehicle to concession to minimize risk.

Please follow directions given by our team at all times, and be kind and patient with one another. We’re all working through this mess together. With a little extra effort, we’ll be able to continue welcoming everyone to movies, as they should be – under the stars!