Congrats to the class of 2021!
Heads up, graduating seniors! Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Ahsha Safaí announced Tuesday that the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Unified School district (SFUSD) have partnered together to facilitate COVID-compliant, safe outdoor graduation ceremonies this year. “Graduations for All” are socially-distant, staggered ceremonies occuring at Kezar Stadium and the McAteer High School campus for approximately 4,000 high school graduates across the City’s public school system.
Our students have missed so many important milestones this year, so I’m incredibly excited to announce that we’ll be hosting outdoor graduations at Kezar Stadium and the McAteer campus for our high school seniors! @SFUnified pic.twitter.com/3lhBBFCmn1
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) April 27, 2021
The City and SFUSD will host larger ceremonies at Kezar Stadium from June 1-3 for graduates from Lowell, Burton, Galileo, Washington, Balboa, O’Connell, Mission, Lincoln, Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, Marshall and Wallenberg.
Commencements for smaller public high schools will be held on the same days at McAteer High School for The Academy SF, Civic Center Secondary, Downtown, Hilltop, Independence, Ida B. Wells, June Jordan School for Equity, SF International, and Youth Chance.
Students will sit 6 feet apart, as will family pods of 4 in the stands. The venues will also allow 2 hours between events in order to thoroughly disinfect the areas, and break down and set up seating.
“Graduation is a special time for our students and their loved ones. I remember how exciting my own high school graduation was, and the joy and pride we all felt being able to cross that stage and get our diplomas in front of our friends and family,” said Mayor Breed. “While this year has been anything but a normal senior year for our high school students, we’re glad we can help bring some semblance of normalcy to this year’s graduation ceremonies.”
Graduations for All will provide staggered ceremonies on June 1-3, 2021 for 4,000 public school graduates at Kezar Stadium and the McAteer High School campus. 🎓 All graduation ceremonies will comply with state and local health guidance. https://t.co/4Gf3bhvlOb pic.twitter.com/Jb5lu3ipih
— SF public schools (@SFUnified) April 28, 2021
The City and SFUSD decided to host Graduations for All at these 2 sites in order to reduce the costs of “set-up, sound systems, and developing COVID-19 safety protocols.” Nevertheless, outdoor graduations also require additional costs to facilitate audio-visual support for families, plus livestreaming for those who choose to watch from home. The City is raising funds in order to cover these costs, and early support has already been provided by LSP Family Foundation, Silver Giving Foundation, Mick and Sabrina Hellman, and the Fisher Family.
“Our high schoolers have had to endure one of the most difficult years in recent memory, that is why I am proud to have supported an initiative by youth commissioner, Erika Morris, that encompasses the spirit of when adolescents move on to the next phase in their life—graduation,” said Supervisor Ahsha Safaí. “This should be a time of happiness, celebration, families and communities coming together. It is wonderful Mayor Breed has found the resources to make Graduation for All a reality for the Class of 2021.”
Looks like the class of 2021 will be luckier than the class of 2020, whose commencement ceremonies were canceled last year. Congratulations to all graduating seniors on getting through a truly difficult and unconventional year, and good luck on your next adventure!
[Featured Image: @sfrecpark via Instagram]