Citywide graduation ceremony to be held
School districts across Houston are planning to hold a joint commencement ceremony June 5 that will be limited to students and faculty and streamed online, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday.
The event, which Turner described as a “one-of-akind citywide celebration,” includes Alief, Aldine, Houston, Spring and Spring Branch ISDs. Graduating students will “return to their respective school campus outside in a formation of their choosing, six feet apart,” Turner said, adding that attendees will wear face coverings along with the traditional caps and gowns.
“We will work together to create a collective but personal celebration that salutes the achievement of graduates and reflects the unity of our city,” Turner said.
Though officials still are working out most of the details, Turner said the city’s department of special events and Houston First, the city’s convention agency, would be involved in planning. The mayor said the ceremony will include “special guests appearing virtually to make remarks.”
“We will all continue as districts to figure out what’s the best way for us to hold graduation ceremonies,” said HD Chambers, superintendent of Alief ISD. “But I can tell you this will be a memorable one for our kids.”
The five participating school districts include 20,000 to 25,000 graduating high school seniors, Turner said. He made clear that school districts may choose to hold their own separate ceremonies.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced that, starting in June, Texas schools can hold outdoor graduation ceremonies with social distancing requirements. Indoor ceremonies remain banned under the governor’s pandemic emergency order.