It will be a memorable graduation for the Class of 2020, but not in the way they had hoped when the school year started, writes Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Take Ridley High School. No students will be on the school’s football field for graduation ceremonies June 9 even though “Pomp and Circumstance” will play over a loudspeaker.

Instead, there will be a parade of cars in the school parking lot as the 470 seniors, on staggered schedules, collect their diplomas from masked administrators.

Teachers will spread out on the sidewalk to cheer the students on.

“The emotion of that moment for many of these kids, and many of the teachers, the administrators, is so important,” said principal Ken Acker.

Graduation in the year of a pandemic.

In the Philadelphia region, schools are finding creative ways to connect with the graduating seniors without violating stay-at-home and social distancing orders from the state.

Some offer diplomas on stage by appointment. Others film individual students walking across the stage, combining it into a virtual graduation video.

Still others are dropping off pre-bagged diplomas.

Many schools are delaying ceremonies until later, hoping things move toward normal.

Read more about graduations here.

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