Mt. Hope's 2020 graduation — pre-recorded and full of surprises

Dozens of people will be spending thousands of hours planning and preparing for the 2020 Mt. Hope High School graduation, and the whole affair depends on the timely arrival of caps and gowns. In order to pull off the most unusual graduation in anyone’s lifetime, Mt. Hope needs a few boxes of caps and gowns to arrive on time.

Principal Deb DiBiase admits she has a little “angst” about when the shipment will arrive. The purple and white graduation garb must arrive by the end of May, which still leaves a tight window to pull off an extremely ambitious graduation plan.

The high school leadership team — which includes Dr. DiBiase working with key faculty and a group of student leaders and parents — are planning to stage their entire presentation of diplomas like an awards show that is pre-recorded.

Once the caps and gowns arrive in Bristol and have been distributed to all students (faculty are hoping to hand-deliver yearbooks, caps and gowns to each senior’s home, if they have time), each graduate will be scheduled for a specific time slot to return to school and be filmed accepting their diploma. At the allotted time, the students and a small number of family members will arrive at the school in cap and gown, walk across the auditorium stage to receive their diploma (to a small but passionate round of applause), and get congratulated by Dr. DiBiase (handshakes or hugs yet to be determined).

Once all 200-plus graduates have been filmed, the video clips will be edited together into one seamless graduation ceremony. Featured speakers like the class president, valedictorian and Dr. DiBiase will also record their graduation-day speeches, and the whole affair will be edited together into one streaming ceremony, to be shown to the world on Saturday, June 13.

Dr. DiBiase said the final production will be more even elaborate than it sounds. As each graduate is seen walking across the stage, a split-screen image will show the student’s accomplishments, activities and highlights.

High school band director Chris Lambert is also recording band students individually playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” and those videos will be edited together into one virtual performance.

Chorale director David Lauria is doing the same thing with the National Anthem, and with an original song to be sung by Mt. Hope chorale students.

And there’s more. Dr. DiBiase won’t reveal everything that’s to come, as the planning team is working on a few surprises.

“We’re getting creative,” she said. “We’re trying to make it entertaining, working on some special projects with a few students and teachers.” She promises there will be a few “positive and uplifting additions” to the final, virtual ceremony.

In show business, that’s called a “tease.” Everyone will have to tune in June 13 to see the whole show.

Thanksgiving ‘reunion’?

The second part of the 2020 graduation plan might be an in-person graduation ceremony, gathering or reunion on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Though nothing is finalized on that part of the plan, Dr. DiBiase said many people have gotten excited about the possibility of holding a physical graduation, or reunion, in November, if Covid-19 restrictions allow for it.

It’s too early to know if that will be possible or not. For now, they’re working on the June 13 plans — and checking the estimated delivery date for those caps and gowns.