Catoosa High School To Hold In-Person Graduation, Taking COVID-19 Precautions

Seniors at Catoosa High School will get to walk across the stage at their in-person graduation ceremony Thursday night.

Catoosa Public Schools wants its seniors to have a memorable day but they will be taking several precautions to ensure they adhere to Governor Stitt's reopening plan.

Superintendent Alicia O'Donnell said the 120 graduates each received 10 tickets to give to family members in order to attend the ceremony.

The stadium where the graduation will take place, McNabb Field, sits 6,000 people but O'Donnell estimates only about 1,200 guests will be inside.

She said that will put them at 20% capacity.

But before anyone can go into the stadium, O'Donnell said they will have nurses at the gates checking everyone's temperatures and asking about any cough or fever. 

O'Donnell said masks are required to enter the stadium but that guests and graduates can take them off once seated.

"We'll actually have monitors for entry and exit into restrooms to make sure the restrooms don't get overcrowded," added O'Donnell.

The district says those who don't follow protocol will be escorted out of the stadium.

While O'Donnell said their first priority is safety, their second priority is to make sure seniors have a great experience since they've missed out on a lot of traditions over the last few months.