2021 Graduation

Dear Graduates and Families,

The 2021 graduation weekend is almost here! We are excited to welcome families to Gig Harbor/Peninsula High School graduation events at Tacoma Public School’s Mount Tahoma outdoor stadium, George Nordi Field. 

We have a few important details to share with you to ensure graduation events run smoothly and we can all celebrate each graduate.

GRADUATION CEREMONY- SATURDAY, JUNE 12

• 10 am - PHS
• 1 pm - GHHS

ADMISSION, SEATING, AND PARKING

Each graduating senior will receive six (6) tickets to distribute to their guests. Under the governor’s graduation guidelines, all seating is assigned and cannot be sold or transferred. Lap infants under the age of 2 years old do not need a ticket.

Each graduate’s guests must sit together in a group separated from other groups by six feet. Seating and parking will be assigned by zones. Your ticket will note your parking zone, seating area, and seat number. See the attached map for details.

All graduates must enter at the blue gate for check-in. Graduates and guests may arrive up to 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. All graduates are expected to arrive no later than 9:40 (PHS)/12:40 (GHHS) a.m., so that they can be seated prior to the start of the graduation ceremony. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Regardless of vaccination status, masks are required for everyone 5 years and older (children ages 2 to 4 should wear face coverings with adult supervision). Failure to comply with this requirement may result in being asked to leave the ceremony.

To ensure a safe environment for our community, we are asking all graduates and guests to stay home if:

• You are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID–19.
• Within the past 14 days, a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19.
• You have been in close contact during the past 14 days with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
• You are awaiting results of a COVID-19 test due to possible exposure or symptoms.
• You are under isolation for testing positive for COVID-19.

STADIUM RULES

Graduation will be outside, rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.

Prohibited items include umbrellas, balloons, confetti, high-heeled shoes, gum, food, and drinks (other than the water that will be provided). Water bottles will be available to graduates at no cost upon entry. 

Restrooms will be available in the stadium.

AFTER GRADUATION

After the ceremony, graduates will exit the stadium first. Guests will follow. 

We are very pleased to be able to provide our seniors a graduation ceremony, but we must follow the state’s guidelines for health and safety which prohibit congregating after the ceremony. Please find your graduate outside the stadium and exit the parking lot as quickly as possible so the next group of graduates and guests can begin their celebration.

Watch Graduation LIVE Online:

Graduation will be broadcasted live on the Peninsula School District’s web page (psd401.net) and district’s Youtube Channel for friends and family members who may not have the opportunity to attend the live event. A recording of the event will be available at psd401.net by Monday, June 14.

GRADUATE CAR PARADE - SUNDAY, JUNE 13

• 1 pm - PHS
• 4 pm - GHHS 

We are excited and thankful for the use of the parking lot at Tom Taylor YMCA as it provides a unique venue where family and friends can safely gather to cheer on the graduates. The entire event will take place in the parking lot at Tom Taylor YMCA located on Harbor Hill Drive.

Health and Safety: The safety of our students and all others involved in the Graduation Parade is our top priority. Therefore, we ask that all student participants and any others involved follow the following health and safety rules:

• All parade participants are expected to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth.
• Please be safe by riding in an acceptable place within the vehicle and wear your seatbelt.
• Maintain a safe distance between vehicles without allowing so much room that another vehicle tries to turn in front of you.
• Signs and window markings should not affect the driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle.
• Please obey all traffic laws.

Notes For Graduates: Student staging area will be the parking lot at Swift Water Elementary starting at Noon (PHS)/3:00 pm (GHHS). All students must be in line by 12:45pm/3:45 pm. Ideally, the graduate will be accompanied by a family member driver while the graduate rides in the passenger seat before and during the parade. Other family members may accompany graduates in the vehicle for the parade. Instructions to graduates and drivers: 

• Vehicles will take a left out of the Swift Water parking lot and follow a pacer car to the YMCA parking lot.
• Vehicles should stay in a single line the entire time and should keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them and not exceed 5 mph.  
• When leaving the parking lot, graduates are asked to take a right onto Harbor Hill Drive and continue at 5 mph until they have passed by all parade guests parked outside the parking lot.

Vehicle Decor: Graduates are encouraged to decorate their vehicle for the parade, recognizing the Class of 2021 and other accomplishments graduates wish to share (Awards, honors, after high school plans, etc). Students who need a ride can be driven courtesy of the Gig Harbor Cruisers, a local car club. Learn more by contacting Wendy Wojtanowicz, 253-549-9007.

Instructions for decorating vehicles: 

• Decorations must be secured to the vehicle at all times and NO BALLOONS are allowed 
• Window markers are suggested and all decor must be appropriate.
• Vehicles can be decorated at the Swift Water parking/staging area.  

Notes for families: Families and guests are invited to park in the YMCA parking lot where the parade will take place. Please arrive no later than 12:40 p.m./ 3:40 p.m., and for safety, Harbor Hill Drive will be closed during the parade starting at 1p.m. / 4 p.m. Please be on time. Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged. 

• Guests can park in any of the rows in the parking lot.
• Please wear a mask and social distance where appropriate.
• After the parade, guests are asked to wait for all graduates to leave the area and then safely follow instructions from people directing traffic out of the parking lot.
• Please know that images of your graduate may appear in promotional or informational materials relating to the Peninsula School District.

Thank you to the City of Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor Police Department, Gig Harbor Cruisers, Gig Harbor Fire Department, Tom Taylor YMCA, and Swift Water Elementary School who made this event possible with their support.

We are pleased to be able to offer the graduation ceremony in person this year. Our decision to change venues required that we move the graduation date up one week.  Seniors who would like to return to school up until the originally determined “last day” for seniors -- June 16th -- may do so. Those choosing to return for these three days are asked to notify their building administrators.

May 27, 2021

Dear 2021 Graduates and Families,

It’s hard to believe we are only a couple of weeks away from graduation! Below are some important details about our graduation ceremony scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 12 at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma. Please take the time to read the details below:

Tickets

• Every graduate will receive six (6) tickets for their families and each of these tickets will have your student’s name on it, as well as your assigned row/seat number.

• Tickets will be distributed to graduates at rehearsal, scheduled for Friday, June 11th, 1:30 - 2:30 PM at Gig Harbor High School.

Parking and Stadium Entrance

• Each ticket will indicate an assigned color-designated parking area and entrance. Your ticket stub will double as your parking pass. Please use your assigned entrance to the stadium that corresponds with your ticket.

• Please note that no chewing gum or high heeled shoes are allowed in the stadium as these are both extremely damaging to the turf field.

Health & Safety

• Graduates will be seated six feet apart. 

• Guests will be seated in pods of six. 

• For safety reasons, there will not be a traditional processional of graduates.

• Schools will be distributing masks to all graduates as they enter the stadium before the ceremony begins.

• Students must wear their masks during the graduation ceremony, but will be allowed to take their masks off while on stage to have a photo taken after accepting their diploma.

• Water bottles will be provided to each graduate. Please do not bring in any outside containers. 

ADA Accommodations

• If anyone in your family requires any ADA accommodations, please email your school by Tuesday, June 1, 2021 so we can ensure everyone in your party can sit together.

Livestream Info

• Please share and bookmark psd401.net/graduation. This web page serves to provide a hub for graduation information including dates and locations, event details, and the June 12 ceremony live stream.

Graduation Weekend
We are grateful to have a graduation ceremony for our seniors this spring and appreciate your patience and flexibility while we continue to finalize plans. Next week we will send another message about graduation weekend activities including more graduation details including a map of the parking and seating areas at Mount Tahoma Stadium and information about the car parade on Sunday, June 13.

Also, if you have family members who were unable to change travel plans from June 19 to June 12, please contact your principal to learn about alternatives to include those family members in celebrating your graduate. 

We hope graduation and all of the activities associated with it bring all of our graduates and families great joy, happiness and pride. Congratulations, Class of 2021!