RFA graduation during Covid-19

RFA Graduation

Schools didn't have enough to deal with trying to hold graduation ceremonies today...the rain made things even a little more 'interesting'.

Here's news channel two's gary liberatore with more from rfa's graduation in rome.

(gary liberatore, news channel 2) "well the first group of students who graduated first at 8:00 this monring did so under dry skies, thee folks here as you can see on this live stream later in the day did have to deal with soe raindroips, but again it's just one of many obstacles thsoi class has had to face their senior year."

Tc : 04:48 "nicholas james foretti....."

(jason holmes, parent) tc : 15:00 "im just glad they actually had something because for a while we werent sure if they were going to have a graduation or anything like that so im just happy to see my son graduate."

(jenina williams, parent) tc : 18:20 "it's ok, at least they got to graduate thats all that matters at least i got to be outside to do it to enjoy the graduation even though they can all be together at least they made accommodations for all the kids to graduate."

(peter blake, rome schools superintendent) tc : 20:05 "ive had to tarp the entire fenceline to prohibit mass gatherings of folks outside the property, weve had to clean the entire stadium and other student seating in between sessions.

Provide ppe for all the kids, masks, gloves, staff, microphones have to be changed out cleaned in between each event.

Socially distancing, the list goes on and probably a little bit further but theres a lot that goes into it."

This day is an awful lot about the parents who are so proud of their kids to achive what've they've achieved to get to this point.

The kids, well they are just thankful to have somewhat of a noamal graduation.

(dajhana cueva gomez, rfa class of 2020) tc : 01:02 "its kind of sad but its one of many options that we couldve done and picking this one at least its an in person graduation."

Tc : 01:34 "thats the rules and theres nothing we can do about it."

(arieonna blanchard, rfa class of 2020) tc : 16:41 at least we can all be together, well at least most of us can be together."

Six separate ceremonies...broken down alphabeticlaly.... each taking about half an hour.

All the pomp and circumstance in each one.

About 56 kids in each group...making up the 335 total student body.

(curtis smith, rfa staff member) tc : 25:52 "you know, were living in a rough time right now and to be cautious and to be safe you gotta do what you gotta do."

Tc : 26:04 "seeing these kids graduate and stuff like that so its well worth it, the kids, they deserve this."

Gary liberatore, news channel 2.> other graduations around the area were happening later on in the evening..

Coming up tonight..

Made things even a little more 'interesting'.

Here's news channel two's gary liberatore with more from rfa's graduation in rome.

(gary liberatore, news channel 2) "well the first group of students who graduated first at 8:00 this monring did so under dry skies, thee folks here as you can see on this live stream later in the day did have to deal with soe raindroips, but again it's just one of many obstacles thsoi class has had to face their senior year."

Tc : 04:48 "nicholas james foretti....."