To adjust to the difficulties of this year, school administrators and parents are working to put together senior events while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. 

This year, Senior Principal Dr. Ramsey said the only senior events canceled were Powderpuff, the Senior Field Trip, Wacky Olympics and Homecoming but the remaining events are being planned.

“Since we have had very minimal exposure traced back to school, I am not too concerned about [the] safety of students for senior events,” Dr. Ramsey said. “I am glad that we were able to give seniors the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments after their hard work at MHS.”

Graduation will be Thursday, June 3, and look very similar to last year, Dr. Ramsey said. The ceremony will be at the POWERplex, which is an outdoor venue, and the ceremony can be heard through an SM transmitter in each car.

The administration is keeping Graduation outside this year, Dr. Ramsey said, so students and family attending can socially distance in the large open area at the venue.

The Senior Parade will happen for the second year in a row on Sunday, May 25, Dr. Ramsey said. Teachers will park their cars and seniors can drive through waving goodbye. 

Prom will be Saturday, May 1, for seniors only outside on campus with limited refreshments.

To adjust to the difficulties of this year, school administrators and parents are working to put together senior events while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. 

“Most activities are still happening and the parents have been largely responsible in coordinating,” Dr. Ramsey said. “The Senior Mom Brunches are one of those events and I’m glad the parents were able to organize it because seniors will get the opportunity to enjoy spending time with a parent while celebrating their last month left in high school.”

Parent Lucy Kreh, Senior Mom Brunches coordinator, said many changes have been made for brunch to be possible this year but she hopes the event will be just as enjoyable.

The Senior Men and Mom Brunch is Saturday, April 24, and the Senior Daughter and Mom Brunch is the following day. 

Kreh said there was a recent increase in ticket sales, which led to a change in location of the event from Meadowbrook Country Club to a larger venue at St. Louis Frontenac. 

“We needed larger rooms to accommodate more people and ensure the table was probably distanced,” Kreh said. “We switched to a bigger venue so everyone who wanted to attend was still able to.”

For the seating arrangement, Kreh said restaurant guidelines will be followed meaning only six to eight people per table. There will be an information sheet for guests to fill out at each table for contact tracing purposes and guests will not be allowed to choose another table once they sit.

For safety, Kreh said the brunch itself will be a plated meal rather than a buffet like in previous years.

Kreh said photographs of mother and child will still take place, but the pictures will be provided on a site for download rather than handed out at the end of the event.

“I have worked to coordinate this event in a way there is less mingling for safety reasons but we are still offering the same activities and hope more people can attend,” Kreh said.

Parent Jennifer Del Carmen, Senior Farewell coordinator, also has made arrangements for less mingling among large groups of seniors. Senior Farewell is a school-sponsored after graduation  party Friday, June 4.

Del Carmen said the Senior Farewell will take place at Six Flags this year for the purpose of having a larger and wide-open space.

At Six Flags, Del Carmen said 10 major rides will be open and all seniors can visit anytime between 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are still available for $75.

“Other coordinators and I made sure that the rides available were ones that most enjoyed and we have also set up transportation by bus but students are free to drive themselves,” Del Carmen said.

After Six Flags, Del Carmen said seniors will be taken back to MHS for a breakfast from Chris’ Cakes and for other activities.

“We have planned for there to be a DJ as well as a raffle with prizes that can be useful to students in their dorms at college,” Del Carmen said.

In past years, raffle prizes have been TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges and gift cards, Kreh said.

“It has been difficult to get access to prizes this year due to many businesses struggling, but we are working hard to get valuable gifts for our seniors this year,” Del Carmen said.

Del Carmen said parent volunteers would be greatly appreciated for senior events so parents should look out for an email in the near future. 

“We currently sold just over 200 tickets but still are hoping more seniors will plan to come because the activities and great prizes will make this event memorable,” Del Carmen said.

Megan Eshelman, senior, is attending Senior Farewell and said she is grateful to still have this opportunity because there were a lot of traditions seniors this year had to miss out on.

“It sounds like it will be a lot of fun and a really good way to end the actual end of high school,” Eshelman said. “Everyone I know who has attended in the past had a blast, so I am very excited.”