Graduation for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2020 may look different this year, but each graduating senior will be recognized during in-person events and virtual graduations. More than 2,000 seniors will walk a stage at their respective high schools next week as part of an optional in-person recognition event. Due to COVID-19 closures and social distancing requirements from state and local officials, traditional graduation ceremonies were replaced this year to highlight the accomplishments of the Class of 2020.
Next week, seniors will participate in an optional in-person recognition at their respective high schools. At these events, seniors will have their picture taken to commemorate their graduation. These pictures will be included in each school’s virtual graduation ceremony. Photographers from Lifetouch will also take photos of seniors that parents can purchase. These events are not open to the public.
Virtual ceremonies will include a senior portrait of each graduate, if the school has one on file, and a roll call of student names. Additionally, speeches from keynote speakers such as class valedictorian, salutatorian, senior class president, school principal, Board of Education members and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill, will be included in each ceremony.
CCPS will feature a virtual graduation for all seven high schools starting at 7 a.m. on June 11. Graduations will run, starting at 7 a.m., on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and on the CCPS Vimeo and YouTube channels.
Ceremonies on Vimeo and YouTube are available on demand; community members can watch any graduation ceremony at any time on these outlets. The CCPS Vimeo site is https://vimeo.com/ccpstv and YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/user/ccpsmd. All graduation ceremonies will be posted on the CCPS website at ccboe.com after June 11.
Parents can purchase pictures taken at the in-person recognitions from Lifetouch. Information about how to order through Lifetouch is posted on the CCPS graduation page at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/graduation-class-of-2020.
Any parent, guardian or family member attending in-person events with a graduating senior should follow social distancing guidelines, directions by school staff and wear a mask while on the school campus. Seniors having their picture taken should remove their mask for the photo.
This year’s graduating class features 2,080 students receiving either a diploma or certificate and a record number of scholarship offers totaling nearly $125 million.
The following is a schedule of in-person events set for each high school. The events are not open to the public. Parents with questions about their child’s specific school in-person event should contact the school principal.
Henry E. Lackey High School
Graduation date: Monday, June 1
Expected number of graduating seniors: 244
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 29
La Plata High School
Graduation date: Wednesday, June 3
Expected number of graduating seniors: 285
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 1
Maurice J. McDonough High School
Graduation date: Monday, June 1
Expected number of graduating seniors: 198
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 29
North Point High School
Graduation date: Thursday, June 4
Expected number of graduating seniors: 432
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 to 10 a.m., Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2
St. Charles High School
Graduation date: Wednesday, June 3
Expected number of graduating seniors: 358
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 29
Thomas Stone High School
Graduation date: Tuesday, June 2
Expected number of graduating seniors: 275
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 29
Westlake High School
Graduation date: Tuesday, June 2
Expected number of graduating seniors: 288
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 29
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
Next week, seniors will participate in an optional in-person recognition at their respective high schools. At these events, seniors will have their picture taken to commemorate their graduation. These pictures will be included in each school’s virtual graduation ceremony. Photographers from Lifetouch will also take photos of seniors that parents can purchase. These events are not open to the public.
Virtual ceremonies will include a senior portrait of each graduate, if the school has one on file, and a roll call of student names. Additionally, speeches from keynote speakers such as class valedictorian, salutatorian, senior class president, school principal, Board of Education members and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kimberly Hill, will be included in each ceremony.
CCPS will feature a virtual graduation for all seven high schools starting at 7 a.m. on June 11. Graduations will run, starting at 7 a.m., on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and on the CCPS Vimeo and YouTube channels.
Ceremonies on Vimeo and YouTube are available on demand; community members can watch any graduation ceremony at any time on these outlets. The CCPS Vimeo site is https://vimeo.com/ccpstv and YouTube is https://www.youtube.com/user/ccpsmd. All graduation ceremonies will be posted on the CCPS website at ccboe.com after June 11.
Parents can purchase pictures taken at the in-person recognitions from Lifetouch. Information about how to order through Lifetouch is posted on the CCPS graduation page at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/graduation-class-of-2020.
Any parent, guardian or family member attending in-person events with a graduating senior should follow social distancing guidelines, directions by school staff and wear a mask while on the school campus. Seniors having their picture taken should remove their mask for the photo.
This year’s graduating class features 2,080 students receiving either a diploma or certificate and a record number of scholarship offers totaling nearly $125 million.
The following is a schedule of in-person events set for each high school. The events are not open to the public. Parents with questions about their child’s specific school in-person event should contact the school principal.
Henry E. Lackey High School
Graduation date: Monday, June 1
Expected number of graduating seniors: 244
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 29
La Plata High School
Graduation date: Wednesday, June 3
Expected number of graduating seniors: 285
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 1
Maurice J. McDonough High School
Graduation date: Monday, June 1
Expected number of graduating seniors: 198
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 29
North Point High School
Graduation date: Thursday, June 4
Expected number of graduating seniors: 432
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 to 10 a.m., Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2
St. Charles High School
Graduation date: Wednesday, June 3
Expected number of graduating seniors: 358
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 29
Thomas Stone High School
Graduation date: Tuesday, June 2
Expected number of graduating seniors: 275
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 29
Westlake High School
Graduation date: Tuesday, June 2
Expected number of graduating seniors: 288
Date of distribution of caps and gowns: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 29
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.