WHITTIER – Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies taking place the week of July 20.

Due to strict public health restrictions related to COVID-19, the District postponed in-person graduation ceremonies that were originally scheduled in June. Drive-thru ceremonies are now permitted in Los Angeles County under recently updated public health guidelines.

California High will hold its ceremony from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 20; La Serna will hold its ceremony from 4 to 9 p.m. July 21; Santa Fe High will hold its ceremony from 5 to 9:30 p.m. July 22; Whittier High will hold its ceremony from 4 to 8 p.m. July 23; and Pioneer High will hold its event from 5 to 9 p.m. July 24. On July 22, the Transition program will honor students from 4 to 5 p.m.; Sierra Vista will celebrate students from 5 to 7 p.m.; Frontier will honor grads from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and Whittier Union Adult School will celebrate graduates from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Sierra Education Center campus.

To ensure the continued safety of students, families and staff, everyone on site will be required to wear face masks and students will be assigned an arrival time based on last name. As part of a very structured process, students, donning their cap and gown regalia, will leave their vehicles, walk across a stage as their names are called, have their photos taken and receive their diplomas. Families are encouraged to decorate their vehicles and take photos from the safety of their cars.

“Our administrative teams have been working tirelessly to carefully plan on-campus events that adhere to all social distancing protocols, while ensuring that families have an experience that is safe, festive and respectful of all the experiences and accomplishments of the Class of 2020,” Superintendent Martin Plourde said. “These ceremonies will feature all of the traditional elements our seniors and families have been looking forward to and we promise to make this experience just as memorable.”

Graduation speeches will be prerecorded and available for viewing on each school’s website.