OBSERVER file photo Fredonia High, due to COVID-19, held commencement last year at the fairgrounds.

For the second year in a row, Fredonia High School graduation will take place at the Fairgrounds.

During this week’s school board meeting, senior activities were discussed in what has been a very abnormal year. The district was able to have their in-person Senior Prom and awards night, with more in-person events coming up.

“As great as it was for the kids, for me it’s the same,” said Fredonia High School Principal Darrin Paschke. “I love that stuff so much. Not having the normal stuff is hard for me as well. It was a feeling of pride and excitement to be in person with our kids at the prom.”

Paschke said the Student Council took extra care to prepare the tents, lights, and balloons that lit up in the dark, on top of a dessert spread. In addition to the school’s award ceremony and senior prom, which have already passed, Paschke said there is a lot coming up. Tonight, Fredonia’s Senior Class Night will be at the tennis courts on the school grounds.

“We give the valedictorian and salutatorian their medals there,” Paschke said. “Kids will be doing skits and musical performances and will be doing their superlatives there as well, and just enjoying each other’s company.”

The event goes quick Paschke said, as Class Night will be from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Parents are invited to be in the parking lot area, as the students will be seated six feet apart on the grass near the tennis courts. Like last year, the school rented a large white box truck to use as a screen for the projection, in lieu of a screen which was difficult to use in the wind.

As for graduation, Paschke is hopeful that, if it doesn’t rain, the audience will be able to bring their own chairs. Should that be the case, they will have five family members per student able to attend at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m.

“Where we are right now is putting a few people in a car and having to sit in a car,” Paschke said. “But things have loosened up a bit and I’m hopefully going to be able to make an announcement soon in regards to that.”

Additionally, the school’s 2021-22 budget, set at $31,295,067, also was adopted after being approved by voters in May.