High School Graduation and End of Year for Seniors

From: Dr. William A. Watson, Superintendent of Schools
Thank you for your patience as we have explored options for end of year processes for graduating seniors. Your input and the feedback from parents and students that you have shared have been extremely valuable in considering the impacts of the options available under the current circumstances. In addition to your input, we have been monitoring local, statewide, and national information and
trends to determine the feasibility of multiple approaches.
Background
The strong desire of seniors and their families to celebrate the important milestones that accompany the end of the senior year, particularly graduation, is an important consideration that must be balanced with the reality of NJ Executive Order 107. The order makes clear that “gatherings of individuals, such as parties, celebrations, or other social events, are cancelled” as long as the order remains in effect. There
has been no indication of when the order may be lifted or of the restrictions on gatherings that will apply when it is. The current trends are such that it appears unlikely that restrictions will be sufficiently lifted by the scheduled graduation dates, which makes a traditional graduation ceremony on the scheduled dates equally unlikely. We remain committed to honoring the scheduled graduation dates so that students can have the certainty of knowing that they have graduated from high school with finality. Postponing the graduation dates in the hope that we might be able to celebrate a version of in-person graduation under unknown restrictions would add additional anxiety in an already uncertain time.
Approach to Graduation for the Class of 2020
Given these realities and the unpredictability of the status of gatherings in the future, this year:

  • Baccalaureate Masses will not be celebrated. Each high school may hold a virtual Mass for its graduating seniors and their families at its discretion, provided that the number of people present is no more than 10, including the celebrant and technician(s).
  • Graduation ceremonies will be conducted virtually. Each high school will mark and celebrate the completion of high school with a virtual graduation on the scheduled date for its graduation. The ceremony will follow the standard format for graduation that the school typically uses, including speeches, the Alma Mater, and recognition of each graduate. This will bring finality that marks the unambiguous end of high school for the seniors. Each school will decide whether to livestream or pre-record its virtual graduation and the best platform(s) for its delivery.
  • Additional celebration of the Class of 2020 may be conducted when circumstances permit it. If a high school would like to conduct an additional celebration, it should develop a plan and submit it to the Office of Catholic Schools not less than two weeks prior and before any announcement or invitation is extended.

Please note that conducting graduation virtually means no in-person reception of the diplomas at school and no drive-in, drive-through, or drive-by activities. I recognize that all those who have supported and served the graduates and their families would very much like to celebrate this important milestone by offering the in-person touch that helps to mark graduations as special and definitive. However, we remain bound by Executive Order 107 and our obligation to ensure the safety and health of our graduates, their families, and our school communities.Additional End of Year Considerations In addition to the guidance on graduations provided above, please consider the following when planning your end of year activities:

  • The last day of classes for seniors will be as scheduled on the school calendar. The last day of class will be delivered virtually, as in-person classes have been suspended for the rest of the school year. Each school should arrange a way to commemorate the last day of classes with its seniors in as personal a way as possible.
  • If final exams are given to seniors, they will be weighted as a grade for the fourth quarter only. Final grades for the second semester will be calculated by weighting the third and fourth quarter equally (50% each). Final grades for the year will be calculated by weighting the first and second semesters equally (50% each).
  • Each high school should arrange for seniors to come to school in small groups to gather any personal belongings and pick up their caps and gowns. Groups should be scheduled such that any gathering is brief, does not exceed 10 people at a time, and adheres to appropriate social distancing protocols. The parking area, entrance, exit and hallways need to be monitored so that students do not congregate on the school campus in any way.I realize that these developments may be deeply disappointing to some graduating seniors and their families. However, conducting graduation ceremonies virtually allows us to definitively celebrate the successes of the Class of 2020 and their new beginnings and invite them to continue to act for the common good with solidarity by prioritizing the health and safety of their school and home communities.

 
Please continue your prayers for the health of our students – especially our graduating seniors as they pursue their education across the country and the world – their families, our dedicated teachers, administrators, and staff members, and for all people as together we face the effects of this worldwide pandemic now and in the future.

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