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Orange County high school seniors petition against drive-thru graduation-The Daily Tar Heel At the time of publication, the petition had almost 900 signatures. Cedar Ridge Principal Carlos Ramirez said he was proud of the students who created the petition. He said they articulated their argument well, and they're right to feel disappointed. "I can't blame them for feeling the way they do," he said. "Their senior year has been stolen from them everything, within 24 hours it was all gone." Still, Ramirez said plans to hold a drive-in graduation still stand. He said the decision was reached following deliberation by the school's graduation committee, which consists of teachers, parents and students. Originally, Ramirez said the committee opted for a socially distanced traditional ceremony. That plan was rejected by county officials for not passing safety tests. The details of the drive-in ceremony will be released once the plan is approved by county officials, he said. "I'm happy that we're able to plan something for our students, something that will be memorable and hopefully exciting," Ramirez said. "The reality is we have to work within the limits of the executive orders." Other Orange County high schools are also planning drive-in graduations, according to a document shared by Jeff Nash, executive director of community relations for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Phoenix Academy High and East Chapel Hill High both plan to have variations of drive-in ceremonies, according to the document, although East Chapel Hill High plans to allow students to walk across a stage to receive their diplomas. At Carrboro High, students will walk across the stage with their guests and staff will cheer them on in a "wide gauntlet" as they exit the gymnasium. Students at Chapel Hill High will walk through the A- building of the school, to be demolished this summer. Once they reach the lobby of that building, their names will be called, and they will grab their diplomas from off of a table, the document states. Phoenix Academy High's commencement is to take place June 6. The other three ceremonies are scheduled for June 13. Melany Stowe, public information and community engagement officer for Orange County Schools, said in an email that all Orange County schools, including Orange High and Cedar Ridge High, have plans for graduation that they've shared with representatives from the health department and emergency services for guidance and approval. "It is really important for us to provide graduation details once our partners (health department, emergency services and law enforcement) have informed us that they do meet the state and local guidelines," she said in the email. "We are grateful to have partners assist us with the best means of staying safe and honoring our graduates." https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/05/orange-county-seniors-0527[6/16/2020 9:02:47 PM]