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Mira Costa Closes in on Graduation Plans

May 07, 2021 05:12PM ● By Jeanne Fratello

Mira Costa High School graduation in 2018 - Photo via MBUSD

Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach is close to finalizing a safe and socially distanced graduation plan that reflects the newest health guidelines, Principal Ben Dale told parents in an email on Friday.

"After consulting with the district, and a discussion with the board, we feel confident in our plan, given the current guidelines," said Dale. "If and when those county and state guidelines change, we will adjust."

The current plan, according to Dale, is to have a full graduation with all 632 graduates on Cooper Field at Waller Stadium, appropriately spaced.

There will be a traditional ceremony, beginning with a processional and ending with a recessional out of Waller Stadium. The school will livestream the event using a professional, reliable service employing multiple cameras. Access the livestream will be free to all.

For spectators, the school will offer seating in a “vaccinated section” to all those over the age of 15 who are fully vaccinated. Those of the ages 2-15 may also sit in this section if they have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of graduation on June 17. Those under the age of two may sit in the section also without restriction.

The school will mark off the stadium seating in six-foot sections, allowing for 4 spectators per graduate. Using vaccinated seating will allow Costa to maximize space up to the 67% capacity allowable, according to Dale.

If there is additional space for unvaccinated spectators, the school will make it available on a waiting list.

Those who have not been vaccinated, but want to guarantee that they can attend in person, need have to have the first dose (of the 2-shot vaccine) by May 12.

In the coming days the school will send out a Google RSVP form to begin organizing the spectator list for families of seniors. As the school gets responses to the form, staff will reply with the family’s assigned seating number for the graduate's four guests.

Planning for capacity given the current event restrictions has been - and continues to be - a complicated process.

"Much work and coordination will be needed to have a successful event, but I have every confidence we can do this together," wrote Dale in his letter to parents. "I look forward with much anticipation to seeing all of our graduates together on Cooper Field."

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