Pandemic forces school districts into socially distant commencements
Ward Melville High School is one of many districts across Long Island trying to hold socially distant commencements amid the pandemic. Credit: Barry Sloan
Graduating seniors at Ward Melville High School will celebrate completing four years of hard work in five separate ceremonies that observe social distancing — the responsible protocol for big events these days — while practicing the time-honored tradition of commencement.
But there will be no line of jubilant graduates walking from their seats and onto a stage to receive a diploma and shake a teacher’s hand. The Ward Melville students will only be able to exit their cars once they get to a point in the post-speech procession to have their name announced, pick up their diploma jacket and have a picture taken. Guests must stay in the vehicles.
Officials in the Three Village Central School District decided to change up the traditional commencement in light of the coronavirus pandemic as health experts advise people to stay at least 6 feet apart to thwart the spread of COVID-19.
“In order to adhere to social distancing guidelines and maintain the safety of everyone involved, these ceremonies will take place in vehicles on our school campus,” read a May 11 note to the community from Principal William Bernhard and 12th grade Assistant Principal Erin Connolly.
The challenge of holding commencements amid the pandemic is one affecting school districts across Long Island.
The William Floyd district is doing a similar five day "Curbside Graduation" in June, in which its more than 600 graduates arrive with their families, and only the graduate will get out to pick up the diploma cover and pose for photos that will go on Class of 2020 lawn signs, a district news release said.
And there will be a formal "virtual graduation video tribute to our seniors with the official certification and reading of the Regents decree by the superintendent," the release said.
The Three Village administrators said that district's five livestreamed commencements will take place at 5 p.m. each day from June 22 to June 26, outdoors on school grounds.
Other standard end-of-year practices including speeches by the valedictorian, salutatorian and senior class president, and the singing of the national anthem, will be preserved virtually and available for people to watch as they are delivered and later at home.
“Speeches will be given in the front of the building and will be livestreamed for viewing and broadcast on the radio,” the letter said. “Each event will be livestreamed and recorded and will be available for families to view after all ceremonies are completed.”
