Ridgewood High School Cancels Socially Distanced Graduation

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Last week, Ridgewood High School announced plans for a modified in-person graduation for the class of 2020. Now, after clarification from Gov. Phil Murphy and State Director of Emergency Management Col. Patrick J. Callahan, the school has cancelled that graduation.

In a letter sent to parents on Monday, May 11, Principal Thomas Gorman announced that the school is working toward a graduation that will be "100 percent virtual".

What we do know, according to the letter to parents, is a video of the ceremony will be recorded and posted to the school's YouTube account by June 23.

The school still has tentative plans for a secondary, in-person live graduation scheduled for July 28, pending state social distancing guidelines and gathering restrictions. If the restrictions are still in place on that date, the ceremony will be moved to Thanksgiving weekend.

On Saturday, May 9, Callahan, who is also the superintendent of the State Police, sent a letter to schools regarding in-person graduations and wave parades, stating that these violated Murphy's "stay-at-home order."

He later clarified that wave parades were acceptable if they didn't become large gatherings.

"It's a great gesture to give that sense of solidarity but when there's 50 people standing on top of each other on the curb of a hospital or in front of a high school that's where the problem comes in," Callahan said.

On May 11, Murphy said the state isn't ruling out live graduations, but is unsure of when they could happen.

"Can we do it on Aug. 1? I would put more money on that. I still wouldn't make it non-refundable," he said.

Read more: NJ Clarifies Live Graduation, 'Wave Parades' In Coronavirus Order