Kennedy High School Planning Live Graduation Ceremony
This year has been a rough one for high school seniors. They have had to miss out on so many things that make senior year special. From final games and proms, to graduation ceremonies, these things have been cancelled or just done a little differently this year. One thing they did get was plenty of unintentional and enforced senior skip days. A local high school is trying to get back to normal and give their graduating seniors the ceremony they deserve before they head off to college.
KCRG reports that Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids is planning on holding an actual live graduation ceremony for the class of 2020. Kennedy made the announcement on their Facebook page Saturday, saying that they've been given the "ok" to hold a live graduation in Kingston Stadium on July 11 IF (and that's a big if) health restrictions permit. (NOTE: Kennedy's original Facebook post has since been deleted).
The school expressed in their post that they will "work hard to make this happen". We'll have an answer as to if it will actually happen on July 1. If the ceremony is unable to be held on July 11, it will not be rescheduled. If Kennedy does get to have an actual graduation ceremony, that would be incredible news considering that other schools across the country have had to cancel, alter, or hold virtual graduation ceremonies.
Linn-Mar, for example, is hosting a four-day graduation ceremony Thursday, May 21 through Sunday, May 24 where students will get a date and time within the four days to receive their diploma. According to KCRG, to ensure social distancing, five graduates in full cap and gown will get their diplomas at a time. It will be done in 15-minute periods inside Linn-Mar High School Auditorium. It's definitely a different way to graduate, but at least these 130 grads are still able to walk across that stage.
Hopefully, Kennedy graduates get to walk across their stage as well. Fingers crossed that, if possible, all 2020 graduates get the recognition they've worked hard for, and the ceremonies they deserve.
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