Virtual Graduation for Class of 2020

  • Dear Class of 2020 and Parents,

    I hope this letter finds each of you physically and emotionally healthy. The events of the past several weeks have transpired in ways none of us expected or predicted, but here we are, and the time has come to face our reality and make some difficult decisions. Please know, every decision has been carefully weighed and where possible, alternative plans for future months continue to be considered.

    Graduation is a rite of passage you have earned and the Class of 2020 will be honored for reaching this important milestone, to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining social distancing and other personal safety protocols mandated by our local and state authorities and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

    When we began studying alternatives due to the recent restrictions, we looked at several options. We studied the possibility of delaying graduations, holding some form of social distancing graduation, drive-through graduation, or virtual graduation. Each of these options brings its own set of challenges.

    Delaying graduations until June or July does not guarantee that the restrictions on large-scale gatherings will be lifted by that time. In addition, the further we go into the summer, the less likely students will be engaged in graduation as many of them will have begun transitioning to colleges, careers, and other post high school plans.

    A social distancing graduation presents significant challenges in terms of enforcing requirements, health and safety concerns—and the fact that such a gathering may not even be permitted by law in the coming weeks.

    Therefore, ABC School District will hold virtual graduation ceremonies to honor the Class of 2020 for each of our three high schools on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the following times:

    10:00 a.m. - ABC North High School
    1:00 p.m. - ABC South High School
    4:00 p.m. - ABC Early College High School

    As June 6 draws closer, you will receive instructions from your school’s principal regarding details of your virtual graduation ceremony. Links to the virtual graduation ceremonies will be available to the public on the District website, as well as each high school campus’ website. 

    As always, each of you is in my thoughts and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your patience and support as we near the end of the 2019-2020 school year. I send each of you my best wishes and pledge to continue to seek ways to celebrate the Class of 2020 in the safest manner possible.

    Sincerely,
    Mary Williams, Ed.D.
    Superintendent of Schools