GRAD

Instead of the largegroup commencement ceremonies, each school will come up with alternate celebration plans.

Oviedo High School, for example, is inviting graduates and their families to graduate one at a time spread over an eight-and-ahalf-hour period on July 17, with time slots assigned by the students’ last names.

“It is truly an honor to hand every graduate their earned diploma and provide this moment of celebration with them and their families,” Principal Trent Daniel wrote in a message that went out Tuesday to families.

Lake Brantley Principal Brian Blasewitz posted to the school’s Facebook page on Wednesday that it has canceled its graduation ceremony planned for next month “due to recent spikes in COVID-19.”

“However, we are committed to all seniors who would still like to experience that moment of walking across the stage to receive their diploma and have decided to move forward with a more intimate ceremony inside the Lake Brantley High School auditorium (complete with no weather delays and air conditioning!)” Blasewitz wrote.

The is school is planning a similar event to Oviedo’s, allowing each graduate to bring as many as five guests.

Some of the district’s other schools, however, had released few details about their plans by Wednesday afternoon.

Other Central Florida school districts have had to devise alternate graduation plans, as well. Lake County had in-person ceremonies on the schools’ football fields earlier this month. Orange County seniors took part in virtual ceremonies in early June and the district still hopes to have more traditional events next month.