In 175 years of public education in Warsaw, this is the first recorded outdoor commencement ceremony. Photo provided

News Release 

WARSAW – Warsaw Community Schools will host an in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Friday, July 17 at 7:30 pm at the Tiger Athletic Complex (TAC) on Fisher Field.

In 175 years of public education in Warsaw, this is the first recorded outdoor commencement ceremony. Organizers have a plan in place to address logistical considerations such as parking, arrival time, procedures, and seating arrangements.

With the assistance of the City of Warsaw Police Department and School Resource Officers, graduation attendees may arrive on campus from the SR15 or Logan Street points of entry and will be directed by officers to designated parking lots. There will be no parking permitted in Tiger Circle. 

Graduating seniors are to report to the Tiger Den through door #29 at 6:30 pm. Ticket holders will be directed to the main entrance gate that will open at 6:15 pm. Two lines will be formed for guests to exchange their paper tickets for a colored wristband. The TAC has been strategically organized into five color-coded taped-off pods capable of seating 200 guests and adhere to stage 4.5 State of Indiana Executive Order. Each pod will block off alternating rows to provide social distancing.

The colored wristband will indicate the pod section the guest will be escorted to. Guests are respectfully asked to remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. WCS will have a 15’ x 27’ jumbo screen behind the stage. There will be no standing permitted along the fences inside or outside of Fisher Field.

WCS leaders have developed a system to fill a pod to its regulated capacity and then move to the next color-coded pod. Only families who have a member with a physical limitation and have contacted WCHS prior to Friday will have an alternative seating arrangement. Each color-coded pod will have a designated matching color-coded restroom. With respect to safety concerns, WCS will only permit ticket holders to remain on campus.

Guests are asked to stay home if they feel unwell or if they are a high-risk individual due to health concerns. WCS has arranged Livestream options for friends and family to access the graduation ceremony video and broadcast with WIOE and News Now Warsaw. WIOE will Livestream on http://wioe.com

On the homepage, there will be a choice titled, “Tiger Grad Video.” The video will be located at the top of the video section and should begin playing automatically. If not, clicking any of the video choices will launch Livestream. An audio-only production will be broadcast on WLQZ, Z93.9FM. News Now Warsaw will host a Livestream on the News Now Warsaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/newsnowwarsaw

The commencement ceremony is expected to be approximately one and a half hours. At the close of this special event, the main gate and the visitor’s gate will be opened. Guests will be released two pods at a time by WCS event staff and ushered to one of the exits.

While every precaution will be taken, masks are kindly requested. Warsaw Community Schools would like to thank the WCS School Board, faculty, administration, and community partners for their commitment to honor the Class of 2020 with an in-person commencement ceremony.  WCS looks forward to this milestone moment with an appreciation for each Class of 2020 scholar and their families.