The Paton-Churdan 2020 graduating class is preparing for their high school graduation ceremony next weekend.

The event will be held at the school gymnasium Saturday, June 13th at 2pm. Due to COVID-19 concerns, Principal Annie Smith says the ceremony will only be for family members of the seniors and they will be put together in groups to adhere to social distancing recommendations. However, following the ceremony Smith invites everyone to the school building for a special send-off for the graduates.

“Immediately after the ceremony, we’ll have our seniors positioned around that horseshoe (driveway) so we can do a drive-thru reception of sorts. So people can drive through and give their congratulations. If they want to drop something off to them or just wave to them, it’s kind of a one last final (goodbye) as well.”

The reception will be from 2:45-3:45pm and attendees are urged to stay in their vehicles. The reception is open to the public.