Even the coronavirus can’t stop the class of 2020 from celebrating their accomplishments. This Saturday, the senior class of DHS will be participating in a vehicle-based graduation ceremony.

At noon, graduates and their families will begin arriving at the Dedham Middle School parking lot. A DHS staff member will then place a magnetic placard with the senior’s last name and a number between 1-40 to signify the order of vehicles. After the cars are parked alphabetically, the procession will proceed in order out of the DMS parking lot to the entrance of the DHS auditorium on Whiting Ave.

Once all of the seniors and their families have arrived, the seniors then will step out of their vehicles onto the sidewalk. As the “Pomp & Circumstance” graduation march plays over a loudspeaker, students will approach the DHS main entrance and walk across the graduation stage as their names and scholarships are read.

After all graduates have received their diplomas, DHS Principal Jim Forrest will announce the students as official graduates of Dedham High School. The procession will then proceed away from the auditorium.

Dedham TV is expected to broadcast the graduation live. A professional photographer will also be in attendance to take pictures of the graduates with their diplomas. Graduates and their families are encouraged to decorate their cars for the event.

At 5 PM, a celebratory parade will set out from the Dedham Courthouse all the way to DHS. Dedham community members are welcome to spread out along the route to cheer for and support the new graduates.

The Dedham community has been supportive from the very beginning of the pandemic. From creating videos to support the senior class, to delivering candy and cookies to their doors, they have brought meaning to the sentiment “We are all in this together.”

In addition to the vehicle-based graduation, a more traditional graduation ceremony is being considered for late July.

Caroline Goggin, Class of 2020, is the editor-in-chief of the Dedham Mirror. She is also a Marauder cheerleader and tennis player. Outside of school, Caroline loves to hang out with her friends and listen to music. She will be attending St. Michael's College in the fall.