In-person graduations planned for Class of ’21
One piece of normalcy to return to South Florida’s high school seniors this year, as they’ll be get to participate in a real graduation ceremony— with a few changes due to COVID-19.
They may only get to invite two guests this year, instead of the four to six from past years. Handshaking will be out, while masks and social distancing will be in.
But for many seniors, it will be last year’s ceremonies, which were all virtual. Seniors watched at home as the photos of themselves as their classmates flashed on a screen. Some communities and organizations improvised by holding drive-through ceremonies where students stayed in cars.
“We’re excited to return to traditional pomp and circumstance, and to give our 2021 graduates and their families an in-person graduation experience,” said Broward Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “We can’t wait to provide memorable and celebratory events that honor and recognize the Class of 2021.”
Broward plans to hold ceremonies June 4 to 10 at a variety
of locations. Palm Beach County ceremonies will be June 3 to 19 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Miami-Dade school officials announced in February they too were planning for in-person graduations, but they were still working out the details. The district is closed this week due to Spring Break.
“We are finalizing our graduation schedule and hope to release something soon,” Miami-Dade spokeswoman Daisy Gonzalez-Diego said.
Graduation ceremonies were called off last year at a time when all schools in Florida were closed due to the pandemic. This year, all schools have been open for in-person learning.
But that was a time when schools were still closed. All South Florida high schools have been open since at least mid-October, although most seniors have still been learning at home. It’s unclear how many will show up. The Palm Beach County School District expects some to stay home.
“After all the kids walk the stage, we’re going to put up the photos of all the kids not comfortable attending and their names will still be read,” said Claudia Shea, a spokeswoman for the district.
The capacity for each Palm Beach ceremony will be limited to 1,740, socially distanced into 870 pods of two, Shea said. While students will be guaranteed at least two tickets, students
who attend schools with smaller graduating classes may be able to get more, based on principal discretion, she said.
Broward announced its official plans Tuesday. About half will be at Nova Southeastern High in Davie. Some ceremonies will be held at
the actual school, such as Pompano Beach High, Boyd Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes and South Plantation high.
A few of the larger schools, including Nova High in Davie Cypress Bay High in Weston and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland are scheduled to be outdoors at Inter Miami CF Stadium, formerly Lockhart Stadium. It’s unclear what the rain contingency plan is.