At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary as La Conner High seniors received their graduation caps and gowns Thursday afternoon ahead of this year’s commencement exercises.

There was laughter, smiles, and time set aside for photos to last a lifetime.

Class members shared future plans. School counselor Lori Buher showed pictures of her newborn grandbaby. Softball coach Loran James offered encouragement to La Conner’s college sports recruits. Cheer sponsor Theresa James congratulated the seniors as they checked in at a canopy set up outside the school entrance.

A closer look, though, revealed yet another of the new normals marking the present COVID-19 crisis and related campus shutdowns.

La Conner staff members handing out the bright blue commencement garb did so while wearing protective gloves and masks and imploring the seniors – who last attended in-person classes in March – to maintain six-feet social distancing requirements.

Although not the type of gathering that was anticipated when the school year began last fall, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Kathy Herrera, who served as the event photographer, struck an upbeat tone.

“This,” she said at one point, “is so much better than Zooming.”

Principal Todd Torgeson said the outdoor cap-and-gown event was yet another example of how the school district is coping with the coronavirus outbreak, the impact of which seems to bring new challenges daily.

“We knew at some point all this stuff was coming in, that it was being shipped,” he said. “So, we got creative with what to with it all.”

By all accounts, the results could hardly have been better under present circumstances.

“The value of seeing people’s faces during this isolation, of seeing everyone in person, has been a great thing,” Torgeson said.

La Conner Superintendent of Schools Dr. Whitney Meissner echoed that sentiment.

“It gives us a little bit of a sense of celebration,” she said.

As people drove and walked by on North Sixth Street, they shouted their congratulations to the seniors, who were still unsure when or if they will be able to take part in formal commencement exercises going forward.

“We’re waiting to see what the governor says, to see if they’ll release some of the social distancing restrictions,” said Torgeson. “Maybe we can do graduation in August. Maybe we’ll be able to do it then. We’ll just have to wait and see until we have something to latch on to.”

“We’re waiting,” added Herrera, “for guidance from the state.”

Until then, the 34 members of La Conner High’s Class of 2020 will continue to stay connected to school remotely.

At least now their electronic images can include poses while wearing graduation finery.