Norwich — Norwich Free Academy will hold its graduation ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at the Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium for the second straight year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this time, graduates will be on the playing field and family members cheering on in the stands.
NFA Head of School Brian Kelly announced Thursday that pandemic conditions have not eased enough to allow for the traditional on-campus ceremony on the athletic field, with thousands of family and friends crowded in the stands and surrounding the field.
“Therefore, our number one priority has been ensuring we can provide the Class of 2021 with a fitting send off,” Kelly wrote in a letter to staff and parents, “and I am pleased to announce that graduation will take place outside and in-person at Dodd Stadium, a location which allows us to maintain all current safety protocols and provide the same number of attendees as an on-campus graduation.”