WESTERN MASS. – As more people get vaccinated day-by-day, local high schools in the area are prepping for their first in-person graduation ceremonies in almost two years.

Williston Northampton School was not able to have a graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the school is set to spearhead an in-person commencement ceremony for the class of 2021 on May 22 at 9:30 a.m. on the Main Quad.

“We’re excited to be having an in-person commencement for the class of 2021,” said Ann Hallock, the director of communications for Williston, who added that the school will be taking necessary precautions based off of guidelines provided by the state and Easthampton Health Department. “We really put a lot of effort into making sure that we can do this.”

For the ceremony itself, Williston plans to have just the seniors and faculty attend, and then each student in the senior class will be allowed a maximum of two guests, according to Hallock. Around 120 students will be graduating that day.

“I think the class of 2021 has really been through a lot,” said Hallock, who added that the class had to go remote in March of 2020 for the rest of their junior year. “We were back in person all this year, but it’s been really hard to apply for college and know what you’re going to do under these circumstances.”

The dean of Williston has been working with the senior class to try and come up with some fun activities and events for the graduates during that final week before the ceremony. They are most likely going to conduct a senior day, where students will be able to play kickball and acquire their yearbooks.

The school is not having an official prom, but they are spearheading a senior dinner where students can get dressed up and take pictures. No one outside of the seniors will be able to attend, according to Hallock. The event will be under a big tent, and students will be spread out and wearing masks.

Williston, which also provides COVID-19 tests to students and faculty each Wednesday, will require students’ guests to register and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before they come to campus, according to Hallock. The school will also be doing contact tracing for the ceremony.

The ceremony will be livestreamed for students who cannot attend, whatever the reason may be. “There’s a lot of safeguards set up,” said Hallock.

For more information on the 2021 commencement, visit the Williston website listed here: https://www.williston.com/campus-info/calendar-events/commencement/.

Hampshire Regional High School will be conducting their 2021 graduation ceremony on their football field on June 4, according to Kristen Smidy, the principal of Hampshire Regional.

The plan, according to Smidy, is to have a “big and celebratory” ceremony where students will have their full garments. Students will be able to give their typical speeches and walk across the stage.

“We’re going to be having different music, and ways to make this particular ceremony really fun and special,” said Smidy.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released specific guidelines for graduations. According to those guidelines, there is a limit of six guests per graduate, and only those guests, students, and faculty can attend the ceremony. Smidy said that Hampshire will be following these specific regulations.

“We’re going to section off our soccer field, and have numbered squares on the field, and do a lottery for who will be assigned to which square,” said Smidy. “All six guests of each graduate will be required to be in that square together.”    

Instead of their normal semi-formal picnic for the seniors, the school will be having a large bonfire with live music. Instead of prom, the school is taking their semi-formal banquet and making it a formal banquet “under the stars” at the Log Cabin.

The school plans on spearheading their normal senior awards ceremony where they hand out scholarships. They will also be planning a senior camping trip, as well as a class trip that usually varies from year-to-year.

“Everyone just wants to come together to celebrate,” said Smidy. “So that’s what we’re really focusing on with these events, and I think people are really happy.”

Visit the Hampshire Regional High School page for more information on what is to come for senior events and graduation at https://www.hrhs.net/en-US/calendars-277c0429.