COVID-19 pandemic cancelled traditional graduations.
Frederick, Md (KM) High school graduations are a little different this year in Frederick County. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the School System held virtual graduations which have been recorded, and will air all this week on the Public School System’s cable channel 17.
“It is will be a similar style and format as our normal graduations which includes the speeches from the principles and the students and the Board and the Superintendent as well as performances by our students. And we’ll have roll call of the graduates. So it’s going to be a nice presentation,” says Daryl Boffman, Public Affairs Director for Frederick County Public Schools.
Schools have been closed in Maryland to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
He says videos were shot at each of the schools, and at the Central Office building in the downtown Frederick. . And some students performed from their homes on video, Boffman says. “We even had our schools to open up and let the students come through to take pictures in their caps and gowns, and those pictures are part of the vidoe,” says Boffman.
The schedule for the showing of the videos on cable channel 17 are:
The schedule for broadcasts of graduation videos on FCPS TV via Comcast channel 18 and at www.fcps.org/tv is as follows:
Monday, June 8 and 15: 10 a.m., Frederick High
Tuesday, June 9 and 16: 10 a.m. Brunswick High; 2 p.m. Middletown High; 7 p.m. Linganore High
Wednesday, June 10 and 17: 10 a.m. Catoctin High; 1:30 p.m. Walkersville High
Thursday, June 11 and 18: 10 a.m. Tuscarora High; 2 p.m. Urbana High; 7 p.m. Governor Thomas Johnson High
Friday, June 12 and 19: 10 a.m. Oakdale High; 1 p.m. Rock Creek School; 3 p.m. SUCCESS Program
The public may also stream ceremonies via FCPSMaryland YouTube, @FCPSMaryland Twitter and FCPS Maryland Facebook sites.
In addition, the Frederick County Government and the Weinberg Center will celebrate 2020 graduates.
The Frederick County Government’s high-definition channel 1085 and standard-definition Channel 19 will broadcast graduation videos with closed captioning as follows:
Friday, June 12 and Sunday, June 14: 11 a.m.-noon Rock Creek School; noon-1 p.m. Brunswick; 1-2:15 p.m. Frederick; 2:15-4:15 p.m. Gov. Thomas Johnson; 4:15-5:45 p.m. Linganore; and 5:45-7 p.m. Middletown
Saturday, June 13 and Monday, June 15: 11 a.m.-noon SUCCESS; noon-1:15 p.m. Catoctin; 1:15-2:45 p.m. Oakdale; 2:45-4:30 p.m. Tuscarora; 4:30-6 p.m. Urbana; and 6-7:30 p.m. Walkersville
Boffman says each of the graduating students will receive a free USB drive which contains the graduation ceremonies.
By Kevin McManus