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Dear PPS Families,

I know that many of you are eagerly awaiting word on Saturday's Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2025, so I am writing to provide an update as things stand at this moment.

Each time I check the weather report, the trend seems to be going in the wrong direction, with a current forecast of rain until late morning (between a 60–80% chance of it, with even thunder and lightning included on at least one report that I saw). Coupled with temperatures in the low 60s with a steady breeze, conditions for an outdoor graduation are less than ideal as of this writing. That could change, of course, and I will hold off as long as I can, but I need to make a final decision by tomorrow late morning, as that is when we start setting up for an outdoor event.

Here are some things to know for both an indoor and outdoor ceremony.

OUTDOORS:

• An outdoor ceremony would begin at 10 a.m. on the turf field.

• If we are outdoors, folks should be sure to dress accordingly. If the forecast is for light or even scattered rain, we still may elect to go outside because of the many advantages. Thus, it could be wet, and it will most certainly be chilly.

• An outdoor ceremony does not require a ticket for entry. There is no limit to the number of guests our graduates can invite, and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be 1,200 guest seats available on the field, and our bleachers can accommodate several hundred more.

• The gates to the field will open at 8:45 a.m. for our guests.

• Our students will need to report to the PHS cafeteria by 8:45 a.m. as well.

• Regardless of where we hold our ceremony, our friends at The Local Seen will be live-streaming graduation so that you can view it at home or in our auditorium.

• Our auditorium will be open, also on a first-come, first-served basis, to anyone that would prefer to watch the event in the comfortable, dry, and warmer elements.

INDOORS:

• If we have to move indoors, the ceremony will also be at 10 a.m.

• Keeping the 75-minute framework in place, the doors to the gymnasium will open at 8:45 a.m., and our graduates will need to be in the cafeteria at that time as well.

• Only the front doors will be open, and the line to enter the gymnasium will extend into our atrium and snake through our lobby. We will keep the area between our auditorium and our gymnasium clear. All foot traffic will be funneled through our atrium.

• Unfortunately, a huge drawback to an indoor ceremony is the limitation of seats. Each graduate has already been given five "rain tickets" for guests to be admitted.

• I am also hopeful that you will understand the expectation that all guests must have a ticket to gain entrance. We will not be able to accommodate any exceptions to this expectation.

• There will be approximately 700 chairs on the floor of the gymnasium for seating. Faculty, staff, and other dignitaries will account for about 75 of them, with the rest open to all guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Our graduates will be seated in the sets of bleachers to the left of the gym once you come through the main entrance. The other, larger sets of bleachers on the right-hand side will be pulled out for additional guest seating and will accommodate a few hundred additional guests (also on a first-come, first-served basis).

• Once again, the auditorium will be available for viewing the live stream via The Local Seen.

I hope you find this information helpful. Again, I will be making the final call at some point tomorrow late morning. We thank you for your patience as we try to make this Saturday the special event that the Class of 2025 deserves.

Kind Regards,
Marc Talbot
Principal