Barnegat High School To Hold In-Person Graduation
BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat High School's graduating class has spoken, and they would like to participate in a graduation ceremony with all their peers. The school district announced Tuesday it will hold a commencement with all students, rather than multiple ceremonies.
The ceremony will occur on either July 8, 9 or 10 at the high school football field. Officials will determine the exact day during the week of the event, depending on the weather.
District administrators have reached out to the state for firmer guidance on crowd attendance. Students also had the option to hold multiple ceremonies, allowing for two to four guests per graduate, depending on the state guidelines.
Governor Phil Murphy said schools can plan for a 500-person allowance as of July 3.
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“We want so badly to be able to give our seniors the graduation they deserve,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis. “They’ve been working so hard for this, and we are disappointed that we can't have a traditional graduation celebration with everyone together and all of their families watching due to COVID-19 precautions still in place."
The decision wasn't easy, so the district surveyed graduates and their parents last week. A group of senior parents have been working with the district and offered the ideas suggested in the survey.
Barnegat High School will also release a virtual graduation ceremony Wednesday on the school website. With in-person graduations not allowed until July 8, the district will accommodate students who will leave for basic training or school out of state.
Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
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This article originally appeared on the Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch
