RPS plans in-person and virtual graduation ceremonies for seniors
Ronald E. Carrington | 5/21/2020, 6 p.m.
Seniors attending Richmond Public Schools will have a graduation ceremony after all.
Superintendent Jason Kamras announced at Monday’s School Board meeting that RPS will hold virtual and in-person ceremonies, with care taken in the face of the coronavirus.
He said the two-pronged approach was reached after conferring with school principals.
Each school’s virtual graduation will be a video keepsake, with traditional commencement speeches, photos of each senior, as well as a slideshow.
“Each high school’s in-person ceremony will give graduates an opportunity to walk across the stage,” Mr. Kamras said, conducted either on the school’s football field or in the gymnasium.
He said graduates will be staggered in time intervals according to last name to accommodate safe health practices. Graduating Attendees will be required to wear face masks and practice social distancing.
The ceremonies will be held during the week of June 22.
“We are really, really thrilled to do this for our graduating seniors,” Mr. Kamras told the board.
“Students and parents look forward to a high school gradu- ation,” said board Vice Chair Cheryl Burke, 7th District. “This is a stepping stone to adulthood and moving on to the next stage of life.”
