Alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies

When the novel coronavirus COVID-19 struck the world at the end of 2019, few people anticipated just how much the virus would upend daily life in the months to come. Because there currently is no cure or standardized treatment for the disease, the best course of action has involved maintaining social distance to help cut down on the rate of spread.

Social distancing has changed the way the public shops, interacts socially with friends and family members and attends school. For the thousands of students comprising the class of 2020, social distancing also changes how they will graduate.

Graduation decisions are something high schools and colleges have grappled with in the face of social distancing. Graduation has become a modifyas-you-go model in many towns and cities. In some instances, all in-person ceremonies have been restricted and virtual-only graduations will take place. For example, New Jersey’s Department of Education was only allowing virtual graduation events as graduation season approached.

Other parts of the country have been approaching graduation plans in various ways. The Tucson Unified School District postponed its graduation ceremonies to late June rather than canceling them altogether. Schools in Spotsylvania and Fauquier Counties in Virginia held modified versions of in-person ceremonies in May, which limited the number of family members in attendance and required relatives to hand out diplomas as a safety precaution. Students in Cherry Creek School District in Colorado found out they will have a modified in-person, students-only graduation ceremony in July. Relatives can watch the ceremony on a live stream.

The Army will proceed with this year’s graduation ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June, with President Donald Trump giving the commencement speech for cadets. The 1,000 cadets will return to campus to attend the ceremony, which will include procession changes and other social distancing modifications in line with current health requirements.

Whether a school hosts a graduation ceremony in-person or not, families can organize their own at-home graduations. All relatives who are graduating (whether from high school, college or even those moving up from fifth grade to middle school and eighth grade to high school) can participate. Here are a few tips:

• Pool resources to borrow the right number of caps or gowns from friends or family.

• Play “Pomp and Circumstance” over a bluetooth speaker.

• Have the graduates march around the perimeter of a yard or down a neighborhood street.

• Ask a relative to give a keynote speech.

• Take graduation photos outside of the school doors or on campus where allowed.

• Cater a graduation luncheon or dinner from a favorite neighborhood eatery.

• Employ all necessary safety precautions, such as seating guests six feet apart (2 metres) from one another and wearing masks.

Graduation ceremonies have changed due to COVID-19, but graduates can still commemorate this milestone moment in their lives.