ASD Announces Virtual & In Person Graduation Dates for the #Classof2020

ASD Announces Virtual & In Person Graduation Dates for the #Classof2020
Posted on 05/14/2020
The Allentown School District is excited to announce tentative plans to safely celebrate the Class of 2020 amid the global health pandemic. While the schools have taken the last few weeks to ensure that our seniors are academically prepared to graduate college and career ready, we know how important celebrating this historic milestone is to our students and their families. 
Virtual Commencement will take place on June 26 (Dieruff HS), June 27 (William Allen HS) and June 28 (Building 21). The virtual ceremony will be produced by All Abilities Live, a local co-owned by two ASD graduates who are excited to be able to broadcast prerecorded and live ceremony content for all three Allentown high schools.

Graduating seniors are invited to share feedback with their school relative to the components of graduation that are the most important to them. A survey will be available in their Google Classroom beginning May 15 and is now available here. Schools have already engaged with seniors in small groups to get their feedback on a variety of options for graduation and other celebrations. 

In addition to the virtual ceremony, the board will review tentative in-person graduation dates for all three high schools. Pending guidance from Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, these will take place: 

●      William Allen High School- Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:30 pm, PPL Center
●      Louis E. Dieruff High School- Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 6:30 pm, PPL Center
●      Building 21 High School- Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 6:00 pm, Symphony Hall
 
Schools are continuing to finalize the logistics of yearbook and cap & gown distribution, which typically take place in June.

All seniors who meet the requirements for graduation will receive their cap and gown, appropriate sashes and honor cords, senior awards and yearbook (if purchased). Tentative schedule for each school is below: 

IMPORTANT DATES: 
June 5 - Last day of school for seniors 
June 12 - Last day of school for students in grades 9-11 

Senior Drop Off Days - Devices, Textbooks, Uniforms / Other items, pay dues
June 9 - Last day for half day, AC and CAP LCTI students 
June 9 - Senior Drop Off,  8 AM - 11 AM - Last names A-H
June 9 - Senior Drop Off,  12 PM - 3 PM - Last names I-Q
June 10 - Senior Drop Off,  8 AM - 11 AM - Last names R-Z
June 10 - Senior Drop Off,  12 PM - 3 PM - Seniors enrolled in GAIN, Alternative Education, REC, and Newcomer 
June 11 - Seniors that were unable to make it to drop off their items on their scheduled day.  

Senior Pick Up Days (Yearbook, Caps, Gowns, Diploma, Diploma Cover, Honor Cords, Medallions, Signs, Locker Contents) 
June 16 - Senior Pick Up,  8 AM - 11 AM - Last names A-H
June 16 - Senior Pick Up,  12 PM - 3 PM - Last names I-Q
June 17 - Senior Pick Up  8 AM - 11 AM - Last names R-Z
June 18 - Senior Pick Up,  12 PM - 3 PM - Seniors enrolled in GAIN, Alternative Education, REC, and Newcomer 
June 18 - Seniors that were unable to make it to drop off their items on their scheduled day.  

June 26, 6:30 PM - Virtual Commencement Ceremony: https://www.allabilitieslive.com/virtual-graduations/videos/dieruff-high-school-2020-commencement


Diplomas will be distributed to students prior to June 30. Prior to receiving diplomas students must settle student debts and return any school property including borrowed ASD devices, text books, uniforms or instruments. Individual schools will set the distribution and pick up schedule for these items.

Families who have additional questions regarding graduation should contact their child’s school directly or district personnel through Let's Talk.