Philly Schools Holding Virtual Graduation Tuesday

PHILADELPHIA — The School District of Philadelphia is hosting its 2020 commencement online Tuesday morning and the keynote speaker will be former Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.

With the COVID-19 pandemic limiting travel to only life-sustaining matters and preventing large gatherings in the Philadelphia region, the district is holding a virtual graduation ceremony for members of the Class of 2020 from district, alternative education and charter schools.

The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday online here. The ceremony will also be broadcast on the district’s television station, PSTV — Comcast Xfinity channel 52 and Verizon Fios channel 20.

It will feature student performances, remarks from Superintendent William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D., Philadelphia Mayor James F. Kenney and a keynote address from Jenkins.

The District will also have a special acknowledgement of the Class of 2020 with its ``20 for 20” event. All Philadelphians are asked to step outside their home or place of work on June 9 at exactly 1 p.m. and make 20 seconds of noise for the Class of 2020. People can shout "Congratulations, Class of 2020," clap, whistle, honk a horn or even do the unique Philadelphia custom of banging a pot or pan.