Stefan Prell is the keeper of the list. Almost 270 names of classmates and their relatives are on the note of the high school graduate from Prien am Chiemsee, and it shouldn’t be any more. Because just as many high school students and relatives are allowed to stay in the 550 square meter König-Ludwig-Saal in Prien am Chiemsee on Friday when the certificates are handed over. This is how a mathematics teacher at the Ludwig-Thoma-Gymnasium determined it with precision work. With folding rule, tape measure and calculator. Fun sounds different, but Prell looks everything else disappointed. On the contrary. “We are totally happy that we can do anything at all,” says the 18-year-old.
Prell is one of 35,000 high school graduates in Bavaria who will be leaving school forever this week. With much less fuss than the high school students usually like to be celebrated. But then again with significantly more freedom than the students from the year before them last summer. The Ministry of Culture has summarized the framework conditions for the award of certificates with bullet points and sub-bullet points. Distance, masks, general hygiene plan. The students are not allowed to serve food, but at least: as many guests can come as the size of the room allows. There is no formal upper limit.
At Chiemsee this means that every high school graduate may at least bring two relatives with them. The pandemic officer Prell is grateful: “We were pleasantly surprised that we could even bring someone with us.” He has the guest list under control, details such as catering and music still have to be clarified. The farewell songs may not come from the school’s own big band this year. But from the tape. The ball on Saturday in nearby overseas will also be smaller than in other years. “Some classmates are already on vacation because they assumed that nothing would work again,” said Prell.
Even a hundred kilometers north of the Chiemsee as the crow flies, the Abifeier is not a request this year. In Straubing, the high school graduates from the Ludwigsgymnasium usually rent a ship and sail across the Danube. You can’t do that this year. They still hope for good weather this year. Because in the inner courtyard of the school, each graduate student can bring three relatives to the certificate award ceremony, in the auditorium they would be among themselves. In addition, there is no celebration here. Director Ricarda Krawczak reports on several discussions with the city. “But it was difficult to meet all the requirements,” says Krawczak, “we simply had no planning security.”
They obtained this themselves at the Johannes-Butzbach-Gymnasium in Miltenberg, Lower Franconia, with a simple trick. The students have registered their private graduation ceremony – which is outside the area of responsibility of the Ministry of Culture – as a cultural event. Compared to the requirements of the ministry, catering can also be provided here, and your own hygiene concept can also be submitted. And, more importantly, up to 1500 guests can take part in cultural events in the open air – and not just 100, as is usually the case with private celebrations.
In the mornings, the official handing over of certificates will take place on a small scale in the school family, in the evenings the real celebration will take place in the school yard. To make this possible, the students created a hygiene concept and had it approved. Masks must be worn outside of the field. The 59 graduates even organized food trucks so that not all guests romp around a buffet. Live music and stage performances are also planned. With a view to the sometimes full stadiums at the European Football Championship, there is little understanding for the strict requirements. “You can see where the priorities are,” says high school graduate Anna Stark.
She and her 58 fellow graduates get the backing of the school principal. “This year was so gagged, especially when it comes to social contacts at school,” says Ansgar Stich. Students should make their celebration as free as possible. “I’m not going to throw a club between their legs”. A bit of ecstasy, but with caution: All guests of the celebration should be tested the day before. “We want to be on the safe side,” says Stark. Especially since many of them only come back from Croatia shortly beforehand.
Many Bavarian students do not want to be missed this year either. Croatia, Spain, Greece: Infection numbers are increasing in many popular destinations. The Bavarian Ministry of Health is correspondingly concerned about group excursions abroad. The desire for a fitting graduation ceremony is “understandable”, says a spokesman. “The school leaving certificate is of course something very special for the students in the Free State.” However, despite the noticeably lower number of infections, one would have to “continue to exercise caution and caution.” Everything has to be done to forestall a fourth wave in autumn. The appeal: the students should “not overuse” the current regulations.
They are the warning words of a ministry that knows how quickly party-loving people can bring in mutations from abroad and make the infection curve soar again. Especially when the alcohol flows and distances become approximations. The high school graduates in Nabburg in Upper Palatinate show that you can party without a plane. The graduates of the Johann-Andreas-Schmeller-Gymnasium dig sleeping bags and bunsen burners from the cellar this week. Immediately after the certificate is awarded, you will go camping in the region for a few days.