2020 graduation canceled in Kennewick. What Tri-Cities schools plan instead

Seniors set to graduate this month from the Kennewick School District won’t be having a traditional ceremony, the district officially announced this week.

While Richland school officials haven’t made it official, they are considering an August ceremony.

And the Pasco school board is still reviewing what it will do for seniors.

Along with figuring out grading and distance learning, Tri-City school districts have debated how to handle graduation ceremonies especially as coronavirus restrictions on large gatherings aren’t likely to ease by early June.

The Kennewick school officials are the first to outline their plans for alternative celebrations.

“Our seniors have worked hard to overcome obstacles and they deserve to be celebrated in style,” said a letter sent to parents.

Kennewick School District

Seniors will be invited to cross the stage in cap and gown at their schools on June 6 — but by themselves with loved ones watching from a vehicle.

Graduates will exit their cars and walk across the stage to have a professional photo taken and then return to their vehicles. The district is limiting the number of cars to one per senior.

Also, the district will celebrate through social media and a video commencement ceremony.

“Leading up to the week of graduation, we will be sharing individual photos of all of our graduates on each school’s social media pages,” the district said. “Keep a look out for your favorite members of the Class of 2020 and share some encouraging words.”

Each school will put together a virtual ceremony with speakers, student acknowledgments and a traditional tassel turn and cap toss. The videos will be emailed to families on graduation day and posted at ksd.org.

The district also is inviting businesses, restaurants, churches and other organizations to help celebrate seniors with a shoutout on reader boards.

The news about Kennewick’s plans brought mostly positive reviews from parents happy to get a chance to see their seniors graduate.

“Way to go Kennewick School District!” one parent wrote on Facebook. “This action shows that you genuinely took the time to give all the seniors the best graduation you could under the circumstances!”

Others were disappointed the district didn’t find a venue to bring students and parents together. They suggested Lampson Stadium or limiting the number of people at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, where the ceremony is usually held.

“There’s a huge difference between walking across the stage with all eyes on you whooping and hollering that you made it, and a small makeshift stage that no one will be able to be there for because you can’t decide to give it a little more time,” a brother of a graduate posted online.

Richland School District

Richland School District is tentatively planning an in-person graduation ceremony in August, but for now all of the high schools will have a virtual graduation ceremony June 5.

Details are light on what will be included in the events.

The district wrote in a Facebook post that schools will be sending out information about picking up caps and gowns, having photos taken and how friends and family can watch.

If a senior hasn’t received that information, they should contact their school.

“We understand this is not how many in our community had hoped to celebrate our graduates,” Richland officials said. “School administrators and student leaders are working hard to craft virtual graduation experiences to mark this important accomplishment by the Class of 2020.”

Pasco School District

Pasco School District Superintendent Michelle Whitney promised seniors that “special” wasn’t canceled even if they don’t get the normal pomp and circumstance of graduation

More than 1,300 replies were received from a district-wide survey, which included feedback from 680 seniors.

The top options were to reschedule the ceremony, provide a drive-in style ceremony or a virtual ceremony.

Officials will be presenting a multi-part plan to the school board members.

Seniors started collecting their caps and gowns earlier this month. Chiawana and Pasco high schools also are handing out “Class of 2020” yard signs to students.

The district will hold a senior award drive-thru event June 6, where seniors can pick up honor cards, certificates, team captain plaques and other items that are normally handed out as part of special events during the school year.

Seniors can pick up their diplomas sometime during the week of June 15. Details on how that will work are still being finalized.

The school board has not settled on when or how a ceremony might happen.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 1:12 PM.