Every senior in high school imagines what it is like to walk across the stage and receive their diploma. For the class of 2020, however, graduation is going to be different.
The virus, COVID-19 has swept the world, canceling many events and limiting the number of people that can be around each other. In order to keep the class of 2020, their families, and administrators safe the School District of Palm Beach County has decided to cancel an in-person graduation.
Even though Chiefs will not be able to walk across the stage, they will still be able to celebrate their achievements with a virtual graduation. The ceremony will be held on May 30th at 6:00 pm and will run for about an hour and fifteen minutes.
There are three ways to watch the graduation:
- Stream the graduation at palmbeachschools.org or on the school district’s YouTube.
- Watch on the Education Network, available on Comcast channel 234
- Watch on AT&T channel 9
Nothing about this virtual graduation will be normal, however, there will still be key elements that make a graduation special. Santaluces principal, Mrs. Tameka Robinson will speak along with Valedictorian, Amanda Anderson, and Salutatorian, Sabrina Luu.
Along with speeches, each student’s name will be called with their yearbook picture. If you do not have a graduation picture, an email has been sent out to your student email with directions on how to attach a headshot. If you do not have a picture to send, a generic graphic with a diploma will be used.
“Despite these unusual times, we should still cherish the memories we made throughout our entirety of highschool and even our senior year though it was shortened,” says Sabrina Luu.
In order to participate in this ceremony, seniors still need to meet all the graduation requirements and participate in their online classes. The last day of classes for seniors is May 15th. Students who are not on track by May 15th must continue working until all COVID-19 graduation requirements are met.
This is not what any senior imagines their graduation to be but if restrictions get lifted and the situation becomes better, the district hopes to give the class of 2020 a real graduation in the summer.
“Please know that the District is monitoring the situation closely, hoping that there may be a possibility that schools can coordinate recognition events in late summer. In the meantime, I want you to be recognized in a way that I know is 100 percent possible now” Dr. Fennoy, the school district’s superintendent said in a recent statement sent to the class of 2020.
