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Ohio high school gets creative to hold in-person graduation

Fairview High School had to take creative measures to ensure safe in-person graduation in June.

FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio — Most Ohio high schools will hold virtual graduation ceremonies. However at Fairview High School, faculty, staff, and students pushed for more of a traditional commencement. 

Senior Paola Espinota tells 3News it was a collaboration between students, staff, and administrators.

“We need like a sense of togetherness, we don’t want to see each other through screens, we don’t want to have this like divider between our graduations,” says Espinota.

Starting June 9th, graduation inside Fairview High School will last for several days. Fairview Principal Chris Vicha says each day will be divided into 10-minute increments, so all 130 seniors get their opportunity to individually walk the stage.

“They’ll enter the auditorium and we’ll have pomp and circumstance playing in the auditorium. The aisles will be open that they can walk through. There will be areas where family can space out and see their graduates get their diploma,” says Vicha.

Senior Paula Espinota tells 3News it’s the perfect combination of a commencement ceremony and social distancing.

“It’ll be good that they don’t have to see me through a screen. It’ll be good that they’ll be there in the moment with me. That will definitely be one of the proudest moments of my life,” says Espinota.

A 10-minute time slot Principal Vicha hopes will still be special.

“Its troubling times and yes, they’ve missed out on things but there will be other things in their life you know that that they will experience. High school graduation is one thing and again I think that Is why we’re trying to make this as normal as possible,” says Vicha.

Two other creative graduation formats 3News confirmed is a parade and virtual ceremony in the Richmond Heights School District, and a drive-in style graduation in the Brecksville Broadview Heights School District.

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