District 128 announces virtual graduations plans
Community High School District 128 has announced its final plans to celebrate the class of 2020 at Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School. LHS Principal Tom Koulentes and VHHS Principal Jon Guillaume communicated details to families via letters on July 1.
The release of guidelines for the operation of schools under Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan by Gov. Pritzker allows for gatherings of 50 people or less in any one location. Under that directive, both VHHS and LHS had to cancel all plans for senior parties and proms.
Additionally, the schools made significant changes to their traditional graduation ceremonies, with virtual ceremonies being scheduled for VHHS seniors on Thursday, July 23, and LHS seniors on Sunday, July 26. Details of the plans are as follows:
Vernon Hills High School Virtual Graduation Plan
• Virtual Ceremony: 7 p.m. July 23. A filmed graduation ceremony will be shown via YouTube and will include many elements of a traditional graduation, including a welcome from Senior Class President Cece Schumacher, the senior class speech from Elisabeth Kleidon, congratulatory words from Superintendent Prentiss Lea and board of education member Lisa Hessel, and a virtual diploma reception. The video link will be shared with families closer to the event date.
• Drive Through Diploma Distribution: 3-6 p.m. July 23. VHHS will offer an optional drive-through diploma distribution, where graduates may exit cars to "walk across the stage" and take photos as they receive their diploma from Dr. Guillaume in a socially distanced way. More specific details will be sent closer to the event date.
Students who do not attend will have their diploma sent home on Friday, July 24.
Libertyville High School Virtual Graduation Plan
• Virtual Ceremony: 1 p.m. July 26. The LHS graduation ceremony will be shown via YouTube live and will be approximately 30-40 minutes in length. It will include many of the elements of a traditional graduation, including a welcome from senior Julia Blockinger, speeches from seniors Jennifer Short and Drew Hopkins, a performance from the LHS choir, congratulations from Superintendent Prentiss Lea, a speech by Board of Education member Casey Rooney, and comments from Principal Koulentes.
• Drive Thru Diploma Cover Distribution: 2-5:30 p.m. July 26. LHS will offer an optional drive through diploma cover distribution, where graduates may exit cars to "walk across the stage" and take photos as they receive their diploma cover from Principal Koulentes in a socially distanced way.
Specific details and instructions for this entire event will be sent via email by Wednesday, July 22. All students (whether they choose to pick up their diploma cover or not) will have their official LHS diplomas mailed home after July 26.