With graduation looming, Coupeville High School seniors will find themselves in a new place during Saturday’s graduation ceremony.

Rather than having the ceremony in the traditional location at the main gym, it will now take place outdoors at Mickey Clark field, located near Coupeville Elementary School.

The seniors lost their normal graduation site because construction of a second gym has made the main gym inaccessible. Construction of the new gym is expected to be complete in time for the coming school year.

Superintendent Bill Myhr said students wanted a local site and would be happy with the outdoor ceremony regardless of weather.

“We want to keep it local,” Myhr said. “We’re trying to meet their needs. They’ve been through a lot this year because of school construction.”

The graduation ceremony takes place Saturday, June 9, beginning at 4 p.m. The graduates will sit in the bleachers during the ceremony. That way they are easily visible to parents and spectators sitting on the field.

People attending the Saturday afternoon ceremony can park in the lot next to the elementary school’s multipurpose room or in the softball and baseball fields off Terry Road.

To prepare for the graduation event, the field will close Thursday at 3 p.m. to allow workers to set up for the ceremony.

Myhr said it looks like the weather will cooperate for Saturday’s ceremony. However, if it rains, officials do have a backup plan. They will move the ceremony to Oak Harbor High School’s Parker Hall.

Principal Sheldon Rosenkrance said the weather would have to become pretty extreme before the graduation ceremony site would be changed.

Currently the forecast for Saturday shows mostly cloudy skies, breezy with a possible shower. That is good enough weather to keep the ceremony at the field.

Oak Harbor High School seniors graduate Monday night, June 11. Inside today’s Whidbey News-Times is a special section highlighting seniors from both high schools.