Graduate & Ceremony Information

  • When will graduation take place?
  • Where will the graduation ceremony take place?
    • LEAD Cameron Middle Football Field at 1034 1st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210.
  • Why did we decide to host a smaller, traditional graduation ceremony during a pandemic?
    • We wanted to have an in-person celebration, but needed to account for safety. While this isn’t perfect, it allows this year’s seniors to have a more traditional ceremony and maintains LEAD’s requirements for social distancing and COVID safety. By live-streaming the celebration, graduates can experience walking across the stage and have a fan club support them virtually.
  • Why are we not doing a drive-thru graduation option for the class of 2021, like we offered 2020?
    • We chose to have a graduation ceremony to bring our senior community together for a celebration to honor the class. In a traditional graduation ceremony, the celebration is balanced between the entire class of graduates and each individual crossing the stage. We wanted to return to that tradition even as we account for COVID safety concerns by offering a more traditional ceremony with each graduate and two guests in person and everyone else watching the live stream.
  • What if I don’t feel comfortable attending my high school graduation ceremony due to COVID-19?
    • Visit your high schools main office the week of May 17th to pick up your diploma.
  • Do we graduate in alphabetical order?
    • Yes, students will graduate in alphabetical order by last name.
  • Will seniors walk across the stage?
    • Yes, each student will walk across the stage to earn their diploma when their name is called.
  • Who will be the main speaker at my high school graduation?
    • A student representative from your graduating class will speak at this year’s graduation (estimated 5 minute speech length).  All seniors are invited to prepare and try out to earn this honor!  
  • How are the Valedictorian & Salutatorian involved in the ceremony?
    • The Valedictorian will introduce the student speaker and the Salutatorian will ready the Invocation.
  • Will additional awards be given at the ceremony?
    • We will recognize the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, National Honors Society, and students who have attended LEAD consecutively since fifth grade.
  • What should seniors wear?
    • Students will wear their student regalia (cap, gown & tassel) over formal wear. Be mindful of shoes as the ceremony is taking place on a football field/grass.
  • Can seniors decorate the top of their cap?
    • No, seniors are not allowed to decorate their cap.
  • What if the forecast shows rain or unsafe weather?
    • If the forecast calls for light rain, the ceremony will proceed in the scheduled covered tent. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms or unsafe weather, we will cancel the ceremony and let all families know in advance.
  • Can we take pictures with each other? 
    • LEAD contracted with a professional photographer for individual photos of each student accepting their diploma. LEAD will forward your photo to you at no cost. Guests are welcome to take additional photos of students throughout the ceremony from their seats. For safety reasons, students need to remain in the “pod” with their two guests. Teachers are not allowed to gather with you for photos this year. In order to minimize risk, we cannot allow students to mingle with other pods students and guests. If you and your friends want to take photos together, you need to plan to do that away from the graduation ceremony.
  • Do students and families have to wear masks while taking pictures? 
    • For safety reasons, everyone attending the graduation ceremony must wear their mask the entire time. While graduates are walking across the stage and accepting their diplomas, they may remove their masks. They will put them on again on the other side of the stage before walking back to their guests.
  • Will there be time to mingle and take photos after the ceremony?
    • No. The ceremony attendees will be dismissed directly back to the shuttle busses for the parking garage. In order to minimize risk, we cannot allow students to mingle with other pods students and guests. If you and your friends want to take photos together, you need to plan to do that away from the graduation ceremony.
  • Will we get an event program? 
    • Yes, event programs will be available in seats.

Tickets

  • How many tickets will seniors receive for guests?
    • Two tickets/seats per senior. Due to the constraints of the tent and safety concerns due to COVID-19, each senior may only have two guests.
  • Do children under 2 attend graduation?
    • Children under 2 can be one of your guests and will be considered a seat/ticket.  Children and guests need to remain in “pod” and seats for the entire program for safety.
  • Why are we limiting each senior to 2 guests?
    • We reserved the largest tent we could find, but the capacity for the tent with space between each group of guests limits the number of guests each student can bring to two. The event will be live-streamed and every senior is encouraged to share the link to the live stream with anyone they’d like to invite.
  • Can we stand outside the fence of the field to watch the program since seating is limited?
    • No, that is not permitted however live stream will be available for all guests to access online.  Also, the ceremony will be enclosed in a tent with soft sides so your better option is to watch the live stream. 
  • Can I exchange tickets between seniors?
    • No, exchanging tickets between seniors is not allowed this year.  The event will be live-streamed and every senior is encouraged to share the link to the live-stream with anyone they’d like to invite.
  • Do seniors need to submit the names of their two guests?
  • How late can I change my guests’ names?
    • Please confirm the names of your guests by the end of the day on May 13.

Venue Information

  • What time will the football field doors open prior to the ceremony?
    • The football field will open at 8:45a.m. for the LEAD Southeast graduation ceremony and at 12:45p.m for LEAD Academy.
  • Do I enter the ceremony with my guests or process in with my class?
    • For safety reasons, we won’t congregate to process in. You enter the ceremony with your guests off First Avenue South. You remain with your guests throughout. 
  • What will the ceremony exit look like?
    • At the conclusion of the ceremony, we will dismiss groups to return to the shuttle busses to bring seniors and guests back to Trevecca Nazarene University.
  • Will you stream the ceremony online?
    • Yes. The event will be live-streamed and every senior is encouraged to share the link to the live stream with anyone they’d like to invite. The event will be on the main LEAD Public Schools website. 
  • Will concessions be available?
    • No, concessions will not be available.
  • How long does the ceremony usually last?
    • The ceremony will last no longer than one hour.
  • Will we have access to a restroom at the graduation ceremony?
    • Yes, restrooms will be available.

Parking & Shuttle Service

  • Where do we park?
    • We have reserved parking at Trevecca Nazarene University at 333 Murfreesboro Pike. Seniors and their guests should meet there and proceed to the shuttle bus to campus from there together. If you or your guests needs handicap accessible parking or a car seat, contact Rania (LEAD Academy) or Marta (LEAD Southeast) for a parking pass to park on campus at Cameron.
  • Can we bring a booster or car seat or wheelchair on the Grayline bus?
    • We are not asking Grayline to accommodate car seats or wheelchairs. If you are bringing guests who need either of those, please reach out to Rania (LEAD Academy) or Marta (LEAD Southeast) for a parking pass to park on campus at Cameron.
  • What time does the shuttle service operate between Trevecca Nazarene University and LEAD Cameron Football field?
    • The shuttle service will run from 8:45a.m. to 9:40a.m. for the LEAD Southeast High School 10AM ceremony.  
    • For LEAD Academy, the shuttle service will run from 12:45p.m. to 1:40p.m. in time for the 2PM ceremony.  

Venue Safety Measures

  • What steps are being taken to protect participants against COVID_10 exposure?
    • Hosting ceremony outside
    • Seating all graduates and two guests within pods, and providing pods 6 feet between other pods to ensure social distancing.
    • Requiring face coverings
    • Temperature check before arrival
    • Seating arrangements
    • Social distancing
    • No group photos
    • No gatherings before or after the ceremony
  • Don’t come if you are feeling sick.

Accessibility

  • Can wheelchairs/crutches/walkers access the in-person ceremony?
    • We will do our very best to make each guest feel welcome and comfortable throughout the ceremony. The event is taking place on a football field. While the tent provides covering the ground beneath is uneven. By letting us know your guests needs in advance (on the rsvp form) we are better able to prepare and welcome them.

Prohibited and Permitted Items

  • What am I prohibited from bringing to the ceremony?
    • The following list of prohibited items is adapted from the list our typical graduation venue shares with guests. We intend to follow this in an effort to make this ceremony as similar to past ceremonies as possible.
      • The following list outlines items that are PROHIBITED inside the tent
        • Alcoholic Beverages and/or Illegal Drugs 
        • Animals (with the exception of service animals) 
        • Banners, Flags, Signs, and Posters that are inappropriate in nature, obstruct the views of  other patrons, are attached to sticks/poles, and/or are larger than a standard poster  board (2’ x 3’ roughly) 
        • Coolers 
        • Fireworks 
        • Glass Items of any kind 
        • Helium Balloons 
        • Laser Pointers 
        • Noise Makers (such as air horns, sirens, cow bells, etc.) 
        • Outside Food and Beverage (empty, reusable water bottles will be permitted and can be  filled at water fountains inside the venue – MUST BE EMPTY) 
        • Purses/Bags/Backpacks over 12” x 12” x 6” in size (medical/diaper bags will be  permitted as necessary and must be tagged with a yellow band) 
        • Umbrellas (small, compactable umbrellas are permitted inside, but not large umbrellas)
        • Selfie Sticks 
        • Weapons (including mace/pepper spray and knives of any kind) 
        • Wrapped Gifts 

Other Important Items to Keep in Mind: 

    • Re-entry is not permitted before, during, or after the event 
    • Smoking, including vaping, is prohibited on the Cameron Campus
    • Free parking is available in the Trevecca Nazarene garage, please do not park  on residential streets 
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