Here’s when lights, videos and a parade are planned for Whatcom high school graduations
Update: Details of Mt. Baker’s graduation were added June 15, 2020.
Seniors from Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum and Options high schools visited their campuses Thursday, June 11, to pick up yearbooks and walk across stages in caps and gowns for photos. Bellingham Public Schools will livestream a virtual graduation ceremony for all four schools on YouTube at 6 p.m. Friday, June 12.
With social distancing still necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, here’s what other Whatcom County districts are doing for the classes of 2020:
▪ Blaine: A pre-recorded graduation was June 10 and will air on the school’s YouTube channel Friday. Students were allowed to walk across a stage for photos.
▪ Ferndale: Students will film and livesteam the graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 13. The video is planned to be online by June 20. The district invites parents and community members to make noise outside their homes as the Ferndale High School stadium lights will be turned on at 8:20 p.m., Friday to celebrate the graduates.
▪ Lynden: Students walked across a “stage” on June 6. The video will air on the district’s YouTube channel at 6 p.m. Friday.
▪ Lummi: Graduation was filmed and posted on YouTube on May 17.
▪ Meridian: A virtual graduation celebration where students could walk across stage was planned for June 5 but was postponed as Whatcom County was not yet in Phase 2. The rescheduled date has not yet been set.
▪ Mt. Baker: Graduation will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7 on the high school campus, provided state-directed social distancing guidelines can be followed, according to Andy Remien, asistant principal.
▪ Nooksack Valley: A graduation ceremony filmed June 10 will be available at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18. A Parade Of Graduates starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bromley’s Market on Cherry Street and ends at Lincoln and Kirsh streets where students will receive their diplomas.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.