Graduation looked a bit different this year for a group of 49 eighth-graders at one Buffalo-area National Heritage Academies (NHA) school. Buffalo United Charter School (BUCS) recently hosted a socially distanced drive-thru commencement ceremony to honor and recognize their students who are moving on to high school next year.
Buffalo United invited scholars and their families to the drive-through graduation ceremony where each student was handed their graduation certificate through the car window after driving through a gathering of teachers surrounding their cars.
“Our eighth-graders enjoyed participating in a drive-through graduation ceremony,” said Jaime Peld, dean of lower elementary at BUCS. “This event gave staff a time to applaud the students and to give everyone closure.”
Parents and family members from the school joined in the festivities by decorating their cars for the event. Students let their school spirit shine by wearing the traditional graduation garb, the beloved cap and gowns, along with non-traditional face masks. Ahead of the event, students also were encouraged by school leaders to get creative and decorate their caps!
Staff at the school organized the drive-thru graduation to honor the graduating class, making sure each student is recognized and celebrated individually. To make this event possible and to keep everyone safe and healthy, the school required that everyone in attendance remained in their vehicles to abide by social distancing guidelines.
This ceremony comes following a special delivery that the school’s staff participated in. A few weeks ago, staff along with the school’s mascot, the Buffalo United Bulldog, delivered caps and gowns to their graduating eighth graders, ensuring students had them in time for graduation.
Channel 4, WIVB-TV joined in to celebrate alongside the scholars.
Congraduation, scholars!
About Buffalo United Charter School
Buffalo United Charter School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Buffalo, New York, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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