Aug. 6 Graduation Likely In Cherry Hill After Murphy Announcement

CHERRY HILL, NJ — It appears as though the Cherry Hill Public School District will be able to move forward with its plans for an in-person graduation ceremony, which it had previously scheduled for Aug. 6.

On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced New Jersey school districts will be permitted to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies with social distancing beginning July 6.

Specific guidance would be released by the state Department of Education and the Secretary of Higher Education on Wednesday. Read more here: NJ To Allow Live Graduations Starting In July, Gov. Murphy Says

The Cherry Hill Public School District previously announced plans to hold virtual graduation ceremonies for each high school. The ceremony for Cherry Hill High School West will stream at 11 a.m. The ceremony for Cherry Hill High School East will stream at 4 p.m. The ceremonies also will be archived and available on the District YouTube channel for later viewing.

An in-person graduation ceremony was also tentatively scheduled for Aug. 6, at a venue to be determined. Those plans are still in place as of Wednesday morning, according to a district spokeswoman.

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Graduations have been in question since schools statewide were closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in March. The issue became a little murkier after Murphy announced that students would not return to school this academic year.

Last weekend, the township and the Cherry Hill Zone PTA asked residents to honor graduates by decorating their doors. That event was not designed to replace any school events, and the district was elated at the prospect of celebrating their graduates in person.

“Overall, we are very excited that the governor is allowing us to celebrate the Class of 2020, in person,” Cherry Hill Public School District spokeswoman Barbara Wilson said.

"Our goal is to ensure our students are given the sendoffs they richly deserve," Murphy said. "We want them to celebrate and to be celebrated by their families friends and educators who helped get them there, but do so safely."

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know