The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School Class of 2020 will cap an unusual school year under unusual circumstances Sunday afternoon.

Commencement exercises will be held following a two-month wait. The COVID-19 pandemic put things on hold back in May, but high school Principal Nate Hemiller is simply excited H-M-S can send off this year's graduating class the right way.

"They deserve this and they deserve a graduation," he said. "I'm glad we can finally give it to them."

This year's ceremony comes with a bit of red tape. Due to social distancing guidelines, bleachers on both sides of the H-M-S Event Center will be utilized. Graduates will be spaced six feet apart on the gym floor, and H-M-S officials are asking families to utilize all available bleacher space by sitting at least six feet apart from other families.

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This year's graduating class at H-M-S High School has 49 members.

Additionally, each graduate is limited to have up to 10 family members or guests attend Sunday's commencement ceremony. Hemiller noted anyone who is not feeling well or showing symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend.

"It's not necessarily open to the public," he said. "It's going to be a little different than what we've done in the past."

Other than the new attendance rules and spacing guidelines, the ceremony will mirror those from past years.

"It's going to be traditional format," said Hemiller.

Sunday's event will mark the first time students have been together in the same spot since Friday, March 13. Classes were suspended due to COVID-19 on Monday, March 16, subsequently shifting the curriculum to online learning only.

Gov. Kim Reynolds eventually canceled the remainder of the school year.

"I'm glad we will have everyone back in one spot one last time," Hemiller said.