Let 5th Grade Have In-Person Ceremony: South Brunswick Petition

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ —As indoor and outdoor gathering restrictions are relaxed by New Jersey, many school districts, including South Brunswick, have planned graduation ceremonies for high schoolers this year.

Now a group of elementary school parents has started a petition urging the South Brunswick School District to hold an in-person recognition ceremony for 5th graders, either outdoors or indoors with social distancing in place.

The petition said that the school district has done a "wonderful job" at keeping students safe, and helping them "experience some sense of normalcy.”

“We are approaching a light at the end of the tunnel where we can safely hold in-person recognition ceremonies for all SB 5th grade classes, either socially distanced indoors or set up outside," the petition says.

Middle school and high school students have in-person graduation ceremonies scheduled, but the district has decided to opt for virtual ceremonies for 5th graders, the petition said.

According to the petition, this is a time of healing, and “the memory of elementary recognition, saying goodbye to a majority of their childhood, and standing with their peers one last time as a 5th grade elementary class, is an important memory that should not be taken from them.”

As of Monday, the petition has garnered 236 signatures with a goal to reach 500.

Earlier this month, South Brunswick announced in-person graduation for seniors on June 22, at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. The entire Class of 2021, along with family/friends can attend.

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