Graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 will tentatively be held July 24 at the Berry Center in Cypress with Tomball High School in the morning and Tomball Memorial High School ceremonies in the evening, according to the letter. Previously, graduation ceremonies were scheduled for May 30 at Texas A&M University’s Reed Arena, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
"It has pained us tremendously to have the momentous rites of passage for our graduating seniors interrupted by this pandemic," Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said in the letter. "As a district, working through these unprecedented and uncertain times, our priority has remained on celebrating our graduating senior classes from Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial High School in the safest way possible."
Salazar-Zamora said the ceremonies are tentatively planned, pending the loosening of social distancing guidelines by Gov. Greg Abbott and the ability for large gatherings to be held by late July.
Times for the ceremonies will be announced at a later date. However, TISD graduation ceremonies will be ticketed events per the Berry Center's guidelines with more information about guest counts also set to be announced at a later date. Guests will have to follow the Berry Center's clear bag policy, according to the letter.
"We are preparing and hoping to have the opportunity on July 24 to celebrate our Class of 2020 with a traditional graduation ceremony," Salazar-Zamora said in the letter. "If a traditional graduation ceremony is not possible this year, we will update you with a plan for a virtual celebration."
TISD's announcement follows an announcement by Magnolia ISD on its social media pages April 21 about alternate dates for the district's graduation ceremonies, should its scheduled graduation ceremonies May 30 not be able to take place. Alternate dates include June 29 and July 20 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, according to the post.
Graduation ceremonies for MISD's Class of 2020 were previously scheduled to take place May 23 at Reed Arena but were delayed March 26 to May 30 and moved to the Pavilion, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. MISD is also closed for the rest of the semester.
