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Seniors at high schools in the Shelby County School District can look forward to more traditional graduation ceremonies in June.

Shelby County Schools officials announced on May 14 new plans for in-person graduation ceremonies for all of the district’s high schools.

The revised plans come a week after Gov. Kay Ivey announced an amended safer-at-home order allowing larger in-person gatherings with social distancing measures in place.

Graduation ceremonies for all high schools in the district will be held at each school’s football stadium during the first week of June.

Each graduate will be issued four guest tickets.

The new graduation plan replaces the previously announced drive-thru ceremonies that were scheduled for the week of June 15.

“It was always our intention to offer a traditional graduation ceremony if the governor changed or lifted the health order,” SCS Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks wrote in a press release. “We are very pleased to be able to offer our graduates and families a ceremony that enables them to celebrate with their classmates, friends and family.”

Brooks stressed the importance of guests at all ceremonies remembering to practice social distancing recommendations.

“Family groups will be permitted to sit together, however, there should be a 6-foot distance from the other guests seated nearby,” Brooks wrote. “We ask that all graduation guests respect this request for the health and safety of our community.”

Graduation ceremonies will be held on the following dates:

• June 1 – Oak Mountain High School and Montevallo High School and Shelby County High School
• June 2 – Calera High School, Chelsea High School, Helena High School and Vincent High School

School will share specific details regarding their graduations, including ceremony times and other logistics for attendees.

“Our principals are coming up with a plan that works for our students,” said Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Lynn-Cook Carroll during a Shelby County Board of Education meeting on May 14. “We’re so thrilled that we’re able to honor our graduates with a more traditional ceremony. We’re very proud of all our graduates.”