Harwood Union set to graduate with drive-in, live broadcast, community parade on Saturday

June 19, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

It's that time of the year. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti.

Harwood Union’s class of 2020 is set for a most unique commencement ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Saturday with a live radio broadcast from the high school’s front lawn.

Seniors and their families will attend in vehicles parked on the grassy field along Route 100 where in most years a giant tent would be installed with several hundred folding chairs. 

But, just as the last three months of school have meant adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, commencement will include many of the regular features along with adjustments to meet public health guidelines. 

There will be bagpipes, speakers, flowers and a class gift. The Harwood band has recorded music to share, and each student will get to walk across the stage for their diploma and a photo. 

The audience in their cars will be tuned into WDEV which starts its live broadcast at 9 a.m. 

Everyone outside of cars will wear a mask that may be removed for the official photo or when an individual speaks from the podium. 

Programs have been distributed digitally ahead of the ceremony this year rather than printing them. They contain details listing each presentation for the ceremony and the groupings for the 110 graduates to approach the podium for their diplomas. 

The programs also list this year’s scholarship and award winners. That ceremony was held Thursday evening via Zoom hosted by Principal Lisa Atwood, Assistant Principal Sam Krotinger and school Counseling Director Sally McCarthy. 

“We’re so proud of you - we miss you all so much,” Atwood told the handful of seniors on the video call. 

Krotinger praised the class of 2020 navigating the unusual circumstances of senior year during a global pandemic. 

“I’m so impressed with your perseverance, your resilience and the flexibility you’ve shown,” he said. “I’m impressed with your commitment to learning, to school and your community. I look forward to hearing about your big adventures in the world.” 

At the end of Saturday’s commencement ceremony, everyone is asked to honk their car horns. From there, graduates and their families may take part in a parade visiting Waitsfield at approximately 11:30 to noon and Waterbury by 12:30 to 1 p.m. Staging begins at Waitsfield Telecom and later at Commercial Drive in Moretown just outside of Waterbury. Parade details can be found here.

Waterbury Fire Department will organize and lead the parade through Waterbury village to the roundabout. The community is encouraged to cheer on the class who likely will long remember their unconventional graduation at the end of a most unique senior year. 

MRVTV will be recording the graduation. Harwood also will be videotaping the graduation and this video along with all photographs will be available to graduates, parents and faculty/staff by the end of the day on Tuesday, June 23.