WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — One of the first school districts in Central Wisconsin will be celebrating graduation over the next few days.
The Wausau School District has started celebrating its graduating students this week with its first of five graduation ceremonies on Wednesday night. The District’s alternative high school celebrated on Wednesday night and with its charter high school on Thursday night. Graduations for Wausau East, WAVE, and Wausau West will be held the next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
District Director of Secondary Education Jennifer Rauscher says the ceremonies being held this year are very similar to the ones held last year during the pandemic. “All of our ceremonies are in-person. Some will be outdoors, some will be indoors. They’re kind of tailored to fit the needs of each school. So the big change from last year to this year is that they’re happening at the expected time rather than having to be delayed because of the pandemic,”.
While the school district was able to hold in-person graduation ceremonies last year as well, Rauscher says being able to have a more traditional ceremony this year will have several benefits for students.
“There are so many people who are involved in a student’s journey through their education. And being in-person, being together gives us a chance to not just celebrate our students, but for them and for us to acknowledge all the different people who supported and challenged them along the way. And that’s what just makes it such a fantastic event every year,”.
Along with the graduation ceremonies throughout the next week, Wausau East and Wausau West have held pre-graduation events for it’s graduating students. Last week Wausau West held a car parade for students that started during the pandemic and was kept this year due to popular demand. While Wausau East has several activities planned for graduating students on Monday leading up to their ceremony.
Rauscher says the District appreciates the opportunity to express its congratulations and gratitude as a connected school community with graduations this next week. School principals have shared plans with students and families and will communicate any weather-related changes if needed.
