Dressed in caps and gowns, seniors Hazel Feldstein, Ewan O’Donnell, Lucy Souilliere, Max Leopold, and Mattias Camacho, together since 3rd grade, celebrate their graduation from Commonwealth Academy during a drive-in ceremony June 5 at Potomac Yard. In front are teachers Jane Furey, Rose-Marie Parker, Santiago Sere and Ksenya Litvak. Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet
Alexandria’s Commonwealth Academy creatively celebrated its class of 2020 with a drive-in ceremony June 5 in the Potomac Yard parking lot.
“Commonwealth Academy’s 2020 graduating class is an outstanding group of young men and women who are moving on to do impressive things,” said Head of School Anabelle Morgan. “Being a senior this year was undeniably different, and the fact that this group made it through all the unexpected with grace and good cheer, also achieving impressive success, is something to honor.”
Graduates and their families observed social distancing guidelines while watching the ceremony from their vehicles or other areas of the parking lot. As the graduates were called up, each picked up their diplomas from a table in lieu of the usual presentation and handshake from Morgan.
“While this ceremony looks different from what we had originally imagined, nothing takes away from the absolute joy we all are feeling for you right now!” Morgan told the graduates.
Morgan acknowledged the challenges of the non-traditional graduation but said the students deserved to be celebrated. “They deserved a proper send-off and I’m thrilled that we are able to creatively come together to do so,” she said.