The Mid-Prairie High School administration is reaching out to parents of seniors to find the best way to hold some sort of commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020.

This year’s ceremony was scheduled for May 24, but the governor’s order closing schools for the remainder of the academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing schools to look at other options.

“I was hopeful that we would all be able to return to school in May and celebrate the end of the school year,” Principal Jay Strickland wrote in an April 22 letter to seniors and their parents. “I have enjoyed the last four years with our seniors and really wanted to take part in the end of the year activities with them and honor them for all their accomplishments and hard work.”

Strickland said that the school is committed to honoring the Class of 2020 in some fashion.

“While it might not look the same as our traditional ceremony, we are committed to providing a ceremony,” he said.

The letter included three options under consideration, and Strickland asked parents and senior for their feedback.

The options listed were:

• Virtual ceremony: “We would set up the gym like we usually do for graduation and allow seniors to come in a walk across the stage and receive their diploma while they are recognized along with parents.

“Parents would also be able to take pictures in the gym, and we would record on video each student receiving their diploma.

“We would compile all of these videos of seniors into one virtual ceremony along with speeches, and other recognition from our traditional ceremony.

“We would release the video ‘live’ for everyone to see on May 24 at 1:30 p.m.”

• Drive-in graduation ceremony: “This would be held in our parking lot and students and parents would pull up and stay in vehicles during the ceremony and we would bring up seniors to receive diplomas on a stage, platform, or flatbed trailer.

“We have not worked out all the details but feel we could also do this on May 24.”

• Traditional ceremony: “We would postpone until June or July, depending on when social distancing guidelines were relaxed enough to allow large groups to gather again.”

Strickland added that plans are in the works to honor seniors at one of the first home football games in the fall with either a pre-game or halftime ceremony.

Seniors and parents were given until April 29 to provide their feedback and offer any other suggestions.