YORK COUNTY — The York County School Division has announced details regarding commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021.
Graduation ceremonies represent both the finish line of a student’s K-12 academic career and the start of their future. After more than a year of navigating the course of COVID-19, it seems fitting that the Bruton High School (BHS), Grafton High School (GHS), Tabb High School (THS) and York High School (YHS) Classes of 2021 will celebrate graduation at the Start/Finish line of the Langley Speedway on June 14 and 15, and will take place rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, such as thunder and lightning, June 16 and June 17 will serve as the alternate dates (detailed schedule provided below). The York River Academy ceremony will take place at Yorktown Middle School at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16.
The dates and venue for graduation were selected based on criteria developed by a committee comprising students, parents, school and division administrators, and teachers. The committee’s top priorities included that the ceremonies take place on or before June 18, return to a more traditional format with students seated together as a class, and take place at a venue allowing the maximum number of guests possible.
As indoor venues are limited to no more than 500 people per state restrictions, no indoor locations met the committee’s criteria. The division worked extensively with multiple outdoor venues across the peninsula. Most locations requested that guests be limited to two per graduate, while the speedway can allow additional attendees while still adhering to all mitigation strategies required by the state. Ticket allotment will be determine based on the school’s graduating class size, but will be no less than four (4) tickets per graduate.
The division will live stream all ceremonies on the division’s YouTube channel. Additionally, on each school’s graduation date, the school will adopt the asynchronous schedule used on Wednesdays. Schools will provide additional details to members of the senior classes and their families in the coming weeks.
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