FAIRMONT — The end of this school year has looked very different for students, and especially seniors. As graduation day approaches, many have been wondering about ceremonies.

On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Education and Department of Health released guidance for schools regarding graduation ceremonies. The top recommendation is for schools to hold a ceremony that can be conducted remotely and that ensures attendees do not leaves their homes, such as through a virtual ceremony.

The guidelines do not allow for a gymnasium or football field gathering. They do provide public health guidance on what schools would need to consider for a car parade or parking lot ceremony.

After the guidelines were released Friday, the Fairmont High School administration scrambled to come up with a plan, which was emailed to parents and students Friday afternoon.

“We already had plans for students to pick up their caps and gowns on the 15th so we thought instead of them picking it up, we’ll plan on having things set up in the gym,” said Fairmont High School Principal Jake Tietje.

Students are expected to arrive in different time blocks throughout the day based on the first letter of their last name.

On Friday, students will be ushered into the school individually through the sports entrance. They will be given a white mask with a cardinal logo on it. Once in, students will be given a cap and gown to put on.

“We’ll have Gemini Studios here and they’ll videotape the student’s name being announced. They’ll walk across the stage to grab their diploma cover from a table. They’ll pose in front of the camera for a photo,” Tietje explained.

Between the 15th and June 7, which is graduation day, the video will be produced and edited. Superintendent and principal speeches, along with senior class speaker speeches, will be added.

“On the 7th, at 3 p.m. we’re planning to have a graduation parade through town,” Tietje noted.

Each graduate will be in a vehicle with immediate family members. Details of the route are still being finalized but initial planning is that it would start along Johnson Street with the fire department in the lead. Vehicles will line up behind the fire engines and, at 3 p.m., the parade will start. The expectation is for everyone to remain in their vehicle.

Prior to the state guidelines being released, Fairmont Area Schools had released ideas for a plan that would involve seniors gathering on graduation day on the football field and being spaced out for social distancing. The ceremony was to be live-streamed. Parents would not be allowed at the ceremony, but would pick up their students afterward and then there would be a parade through town with a police and fire escort.

However, under Friday’s new guidelines the plan is no longer allowed.

The proposal was out there for about a week but was never approved by the state, so the district knew there was a possibility that it would not happen. A number of people had contacted the administration at the high school with frustrations about the plan since parents would not be allowed to attend.

Superintendent Joe Brown said, “All of us wish we had a traditional graduation ceremony like we have for 100 years. But times have changed. We’re doing everything we can to follow the law and keep people safe but still do the best we can for our high school seniors.”

Brown noted that some schools have moved their graduation ceremony back a month but Fairmont has chosen not to.

“The reason for that is some students are going into the armed services, some are starting internships or jobs, and we want to honor the original graduation date,” he said.