June 19, 2020 Graduation 2020 Ceremony Update

We are excited to announce the dates for the Kent School District 2020 Graduation Ceremonies. As we transition from modified phase 1 in King County into Phase 2, we are finalizing dates and times for all high school graduations in Kent School District to take place July 7 – July 14.

• Kent-Meridian High School: Tuesday, July 7
• iGrad: Tuesday, July 7
• Kentwood High School: Wednesday, July 8
• Kent Mountain View Academy: Thursday, July 9
• Kent Phoenix Academy: Thursday, July 9
• Kentlake High School: Friday, July 10
• Kentridge High School: Saturday, July 11
• The Outreach Program: Tuesday, July 14

The individual graduation ceremonies at each school will honor candidates for graduation and provide an opportunity to walk across the stage with four (4) family members watching and receive their diploma cover while wearing their cap and gown. Photos will be taken for the virtual graduation ceremony. Additionally, professional photos of each graduate will be available for purchase. 

To ensure we’re able to follow social distancing guidelines, we will spread out the arrival times at each school, families will receive a schedule from their principal this week with specific arrival times, traffic directions and detailed instructions for the event.

The public is asked to avoid our high school campus during the ceremony to help ensure we do not violate state and county guidelines for this event. Thank you for understanding, and for helping us to celebrate this exceptional class of students graduating during the midst of such an unprecedented time. To ensure social distancing while honoring our seniors, our families will comply with the following procedures:

1. Students and their families will arrive in a single vehicle at the designated time. Families and students are encouraged to decorate their vehicles. The graduate’s name will be clearly posted in the passenger side window. Families will follow the map provided by each individual school that will show where to enter the school grounds and the route to follow.
2. Families will drive to a designated area where there will be a stage and a family viewing area.
3. Families will remain in the vehicle until told to exit. 
4. When directed, students will proceed to the stage where they will have their name read aloud and they will walk across the stage to receive their diploma. A professional photographer will be present to take photos.
5. Students will also receive a Commencement Program to remember this important milestone.
6. Families may exit their vehicle to view their student walking across the stage, and they must remain in the area designated for this purpose. Families are not to leave this area.
7. Students and families will then re-enter the vehicle and proceed off campus using the designated route.

If you have questions about your student’s participation in this event, please contact your school.

June 1, 2020 Graduation 2020 Ceremony Update

We cannot wait to celebrate our Seniors and join our students and families in experiencing this graduation milestone.  Our students have worked so hard over the years and we are excited to share a few details of our graduation plan.

Please keep in mind that we are following Governor Inslee’s Safe Start – Washington’s Phased Reopening plan and guidance from the Washington State Department of Health.  At this time, we are not be able to determine our event date until King County moves to Phase 2 of the Governor’s plan, yet we continue to move forward with envisioning this great day.

Seniors who have met, or are close to meeting, all graduation requirements are invited to participate in a Graduation Walk event held at their school.  The Graduation Walk honors our Seniors and families with an opportunity to drive up to our campus stage area, wear the cap and gown, receive a diploma cover, and walk across a stage with a limited amount of family members present to cheer on their graduating student.

Students and families will remain in their vehicle until it is time for their student to cross the stage.  We encourage our students and families to decorate their vehicles safely and show the pride you have for your student and school.  Families without a vehicle may contact the school counselor to arrange for your family to walk to up to the stage rather than drive.

We will record all students walking across the stage and insert the recording into a virtual graduation ceremony that will be produced and shared afterwards with our community.  A professional photographer will take a photo of each scholar and make the picture available for purchase, like we would do with a traditional graduation ceremony.

While we are excited for our students and families, we will also continue to place the safety of our students, staff, and community first and we must comply with the safety and social distancing recommendations of our public health agencies.  Details on how this may look will come in future communications.

Until then, stay safe, stay healthy and we look forward to congratulating our students in person when we are able.

May 22, 2020 Graduation 2020 Ceremony Update

Seniors and families have chosen to have individualized graduation ceremonies at each school for the class of 2020. On Wednesday, May 20, 2020 KSD principals reached out to all KSD seniors and their parents/guardians asking them to vote between two essential options that are currently available per Department of Health Guidelines for graduation given the COVID-19 pandemic.

This option (Option 2) honors graduation candidates by providing an opportunity to walk across a stage, with four family members watching KSD students receive their diploma cover while wearing their cap and gown.

Each KSD senior will be recorded and inserted into the virtual graduation ceremony as well. The date will be determined as soon as Governor Inslee transitions King County into Phase 2.

“I want to thank our community members for their patience as we continue to respond to this unprecedented situation,” shared Dr. Calvin J. Watts, Superintendent. “We are excited to celebrate our seniors in a graduation ceremony that is safe and honors their accomplishment.”

Details and information about the upcoming individualized graduation ceremonies at each school will come in the following days and weeks.