HOULTON, Maine — The Class of 2021 will see a bit more normalcy to their graduation ceremonies this spring, but COVID-19 restrictions will still be in play for some of the larger school districts.
Houlton Middle-High School, the area’s largest school in southern Aroostook County, will once again close its graduation ceremonies to the general public, due to the size of the graduating class.
Katahdin Middle-High School has also closed its ceremony to the general public, while Hodgdon, Greater Houlton Christian Academy, East Grand and Southern Aroostook high schools have all decided to allow the general public to attend this year’s festivities.
Houlton
Houlton Middle-High School will hold its graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at Houlton International Airport. Because of attendance restrictions, the ceremony is not open to the public but will be streamed online.
The ceremony will follow a similar layout as last year’s graduation, featuring a parade through town at 6:15 p.m. followed by a drive-in graduation ceremony at the airport, according to Principal Tim Tweedie. Parade staging will begin at Houlton Middle-High School parking lot at 5:15 p.m.
The parade convoy will exit via Randall Avenue; turn right onto Pleasant Street; across the Highland Avenue Bridge; turn left on Washburn Street; left on North Road; cross the North Street Bridge; go through Market Square; turn right on Court Street; left on Military Street; and culminate at the Houlton International Airport.
Graduates will be seated together outside, while family members must remain in their vehicles during the ceremony. Graduates will have an opportunity to have a photo with their family after receiving their diplomas.
Hodgdon
Hodgdon will conduct its graduation at 6 p.m. Friday, June 4. If weather permits, the ceremony will be held outside on the soccer field, according to Principal/Superintendent Stephen Fitzpatrick. Parents and family are invited to attend, but the ceremony will not be open to the general public.
If inclement weather prevails, the ceremony will move to the gymnasium of Hodgdon Middle-High school.
A senior parade will precede graduation exercises from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and the route and directions are on MSAD 70’s Facebook page.
East Grand
East Grand Community School in Danforth is holding its graduation outside at 6 p.m. Friday, June 4. This event will be open to the public. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the school’s gymnasium.
Katahdin
Katahdin Middle High School’s graduation ceremony is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Loren Ritchie gymnasium. Attendance is by invitation only.
Guests will be seated in family groups with masks and social distance between them. Guests will be greeted by a hostess and escorted in family groups by National Honor Society members. Randy K. Cyr, a 1992 graduate of KHS, will be this year’s guest speaker. He owns and operates FIT, a physical therapy and consulting service in Old Town.
GHCA
With just five graduates and the updated guidelines for indoor gatherings, GHCA has opted for an in-person graduation ceremony that is open to the public. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6, at Military Street Baptist Church.
Southern Aroostook
Southern Aroostook Community School will hold its graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, June, 11, on the school’s soccer field. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday
The ceremony will be open to the public. Guests can watch from their vehicles or watch from lawn chairs on the hill near the soccer field, according to Principal/Superintendent Jon Porter. A parade for the graduates will be held following the ceremony.
