High school graduation is a milestone for both students and their families. With COVID-19, Peninsula school administrators have had to be creative in ways to honor graduates.
Newport News Public Schools will hold their graduation ceremonies June 15 until June 19 in Todd Stadium.
Newport News Public Schools made a change to their graduation ceremonies with Gov. Ralph Northam’s Phase 2 openings that allow for gatherings of up to 50 people.
The ceremonies are set for June 15 until June 19 at Todd Stadium.
All guests must arrive in the same vehicle and there is no limit as long as passenger safety laws are followed. Upon arrival, graduation ceremony staff will direct drivers to a specific location to check in. During the check-in process, a placard with the graduate’s name will be given to the driver to display on the dashboard; the graduate will receive a card with their name and 10 commencement programs. At the conclusion of check in, the driver will be directed to a location to park their vehicle. When directed to do so, all occupants of the vehicle, including the graduate, will exit their car and enter the processional line.
Graduates and guests are asked to maintain a six-foot distances and wear face masks, although graduates may remove it before crossing the stage when their name is announced. Guests will be directed to an area in front of the stage so they can cheer and take pictures.
The school principal and assistant principals will greet the graduates from the upper level.
After receiving their diploma, graduates will rejoin their family and leave the stadium.
The school system surveyed seniors the week of April 20. Respondents overwhelmingly indicated a preference for an in-person commencement ceremony and the inclusion of other celebratory events, according to Michelle Price, director of public information.
“This is a special time for our graduates. We are making every effort to accommodate our students and follow the Governor’s guidelines,” said Dr. George Parker, superintendent of schools.
For detailed information visit http://www.nnschools.org/graduation
Hampton City Schools will honor their graduates with a virtual ceremony and a car procession, each held on different days.
The ceremony will include speeches from the valedictorian, salutatorian, senior class president, executive principal, superintendent and school board chair.
As graduates’ names are called during the virtual commencement, their cap and gown photo will appear.
The car procession allows for graduates to celebrate further in their car, with appropriate decorations. Graduates are asked to wear their cap and gown. Advance registration is required.
For complete details on how to obtain caps and gowns, special photo opportunities, submit photos for virtual graduation and joining the car procession, visit http://www.hampton.k12.va.us/2020grad/2020.html.
Poquoson High School is hoping to have a graduation ceremony at Liberty Church on June 12, after the Executive Order 53 end date of June 10. The school system also has July 24 as a backup ceremony date, slated at the church.
Graduates will be given passes for up to two vehicles to attend the ceremonies. One will be for the graduate-family car which will be parked in the primary lot and the other will for a guest car in a designated locations. Families are encouraged to decorate the senior-family cars with positive and inspirational messages and school spirit. All ceremonies will be streamed live and recorded so that families can watch in their cars or at home.
At a designated time in the ceremony, senior family cars will be directed through the parking lot towards the stage. Seniors will receive their diploma, walk across the stage, and have the traditional photo opportunity. Once all graduates have walked the stage and returned to their parking spaces, they will be invited to step out of their vehicles for the ceremonial turning of the tassels. All other attendees must remain in their vehicles while on campus. At the conclusion of each ceremony, all senior family cars will exit the parking lot in an orderly recessional.
The community is asked to celebrate this very special graduating class by decorating their yards, homes and businesses with signs, billboards and school colors, June 10-12, so that our graduates will see these displays as they travel to and from graduation.
Newport News should wait until July to hold an in person ceremony – this is too premature and a very bad decision. Why do they need to make it now? The governor closed school until the end of the year but the restrictions are ending soon and they should wait to make this decision.