Officials reveal Portales High graduation details

PORTALES — More details were shared about the Portales High School graduation, along with various end-of-year concerns in a letter from Superintendent Johnnie Cain.

Cain said in the letter that Friday was the last day assignments would be required, but noted some high school students may be doing exams or turning in late work this week.

As Cain told the school board Monday, the district will not offer summer school. Instead, the time will be used for “additional interventions, after-school programs and other innovative ideas to help our students who may need additional help when we return in the fall.”

Cain provided the following information on the PHS graduation ceremony:

• The commencement will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Ram Athletic Center parking lot. It will be broadcast on 95.3 FM and livestreamed at portalesschools.com.

n Students and their families will have designated parking spots on the west portion of the lot, and others can park in the band practice area in the north portion of the lot.

• Only the student is allowed to exit the car and walk across a stage to receive his or her diploma.

• At the end of the ceremony, the students will begin a parade by exiting the RAC parking lot south onto Knoxville Street, west onto Third Street, south onto Globe Street, west onto 18th Street and north on Avenue O. Students can disburse once the parade is adjacent to the parking lot for the Eastern New Mexico University Theatre Center and Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building.

Cain said he had hoped to have a standard graduation ceremony when mass gathering restrictions are limited, but all evidence indicates that may still be months away.

“Hopefully, this will be the only class in PMSD history that will have a unique graduation experience such as this,” Cain said. “Because of its uniqueness, we believe it should be memorialized with a special graduation ceremony for this deserving group of graduates.”