Ridgewood High School Plans Socially Distanced Graduation

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — In the face of a canceled in-person school year, Ridgewood High School is making plans for an alternative, socially distanced graduation. In a letter to students, parents and guardians, Principal Thomas Gorman laid out what graduation, prom and senior awards would look like in 2020.

"Although Governor Murphy canceled the remainder of the in-person school year, we are determined to make our honored traditions and social events memorable for seniors and their families," he wrote.

GRADUATION

According to the letter, there are currently plans for two graduations for the class of 2020.

The first, which all seniors are expected to attend, would take place on a to-be-determined day between June 8-12. Students, following the rules of social distancing, are asked to dress in graduation gowns and tuxedos. Parents or guardians will be asked to drive them to the school at pre-assigned times, where each senior will walk along the front lawn, have their name read, take a picture in front of the school with their immediate family, and return to their car.

According to the letter, this graduation will take place over "several hours and days" so that video footage can be shot and edited for a "live" video. The video will then be posted to the school's YouTube page by June 23.

There will be no audience in attendance.

School officials are tentatively planning for a second, traditional graduation, on July 28, dependent on social distancing regulations and restrictions on large gatherings at that time.

If the restrictions have not been lifted by July 28 then the in-person graduation for the class of 2020 will be postponed until Thanksgiving weekend.

Read more: NJ Extends Health Emergency As Coronavirus 'War-Footing' Remains

Read more: New Jersey Schools Closed For Rest Of Academic Year: Gov. Murphy

PROM

Dependent on the status of New Jersey's public health emergency, Ridgewood High's Project Graduation and prom will be combined, and an off-site dinner and dance will be scheduled for July 28.

If events of that size cannot occur on July 28, a similar event will be offered during Thanksgiving weekend, according to the letter.

SENIOR AWARDS

The annual senior awards will be conducted virtually, according to the letter.

Scholarship and award presentations will be pre-recorded by the presenting parties, and these video clips will be edited together and posted onto the school's YouTube account.

SCHOOL LUNCH

According to Ridgewood Public Schools Public Information Officer Charlene Labenda, the district's lunch program has continued since the first day schools were closed, and will continue through the end of the year.