Late yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the state-wide stay-at-home order, and the Brown County Health Department put into place a local order. To help schools navigate the situation, the Wisconsin Department of Health has published guidance on graduation ceremonies. To say this is a confusing time is an understatement, but I am hopeful the following provides clarity about our plan at Notre Dame Academy.

1. NDA is establishing a date in August for the latest possible graduation date while being fully aware this date may be pushed up earlier into the summer. The graduation ceremony is scheduled presently to take place outside and is planned for no later than Tuesday, August 18 beginning at 7 p.m. on Ted Fritsch Field. A graduation practice will take place on August 18 during the day. Rain date for the event will be Wednesday, August 19. We believe that by extending the graduation date into August we are providing the maximum amount of time for the lifting of all 'Safer at Home' protocols.
    
2. In the event 'Safer at Home' protocols are still stringently in place as we approach August, we will be left with two options, a drive-up graduation or a virtual graduation. Details will be communicated in late July regarding these events, if necessary.
    
3. If the state, Wisconsin Department of Health and Brown County are aligned in their recommendation of opening up in a safe manner, we will revisit the date of graduation and communicate to you immediately.
    
4. In order to assure students are ready for graduation we are distributing the caps and gowns during our Book Drop Off and Locker Pick Up days next week. Please note we do not have extra caps and gowns so it is important you keep them so they are ready to be worn.

I want to express my deepest and certainly shared emotional response to the fact we cannot be together. It is very difficult for our students to have to delay the culminating event of their education, for our faculty and staff to have to wait for the opportunity to congratulate and say good-bye, and for our parents/guardians to postpone the opportunity to celebrate one of the joys of being a parent. Nobody feels good about the challenge we are in, but together we must hope that come August (and hopefully sooner), the long awaited joy of being together will be realized and the ceremony and celebration will help all of us put closure on a very challenging year.  

In August (or sooner if we are permitted), diplomas will be bestowed, graduation gowns will be worn and one way or another we will send our graduates into the future with the very best of what we can offer to them.

Please know you and your families remain in my prayers. One year ago at this time we were headed for a challenge yet unknown, but today we are closer to emerging from this challenge than we were at that time. Stay hopeful!

Sincerely,

 

Patrick Browne

Principal

Notre Dame Academy