Schools deal with virus

Eight-graders in the city's two middle schools will graduate virtually due to the coronavirus restrictions,

The online ceremony is still being planned, but it is expected to take place on Wednesday, May 27, Palm Avenue Principal Oscar Luna said this week. Thomas Jefferson School is also planning for a virtual ceremony.

Meanwhile, graduating students and their parents got a chance to a have a live experience when they came to Palm Avenue on Monday to pick up their black caps and gowns and have graduation pictures taken.

Students stood in line to have their photos shot by Betty's Comparan Photography.

In order to deal with the coronavirus situation and the closed school, the district divided the pickups across the week by days, Monday through Thursday.

Palm Avenue had a station set up in the library with volunteers directing students where to go for their items and then escorting them to the photographer.

"We have about 25-29 students coming each hour," Principal Oscar Luna said. "We are working each day to make sure students are on track."

Luna also said that while following the recommendations from the County Office of Education and Public Health Department, "We have made the difficult decision to have the first-ever graduating class of Palm Avenue Middle School class of 2020 with a virtual graduation," Luna said. "Currently we are holding social distancing graduation picture day(s) for our eighth-grade graduates. We are in the developmental stage of our virtual graduation program."

Luna added that the district's goal is to release the virtual graduation on Wednesday, May 27.

Additional information will be forthcoming.

The "We encourage all of our students and parents to contact our office with any questions or concerns at 758-7130," Luna said.