Valley seniors prepare for 2021 graduation season New California Department of Public Health guidelines state commencement ceremonies for 2021 graduations can allow in-person attendees with limited capacities. While graduates in 2020 experienced virtual and drive-by ceremonies, high school hope this year will allow them a more normal ceremony. It was about this time last year that COVID-19 wiped out many graduation ceremonies. This is year valley school districts are hoping to hold in-person commencements. News Channel 3’s Dani Romero has more on what some families say in-person ceremonies mean to them. A La Quinta High School senior explained that finishing her last year during a pandemic was nothing short of a struggle.