Although the Fairfield Area School District has developed three different graduation ceremony options for the 83 members of the Class of 2020; a community of parents, students, and emergency responders have created an alternative graduation celebration in the form of a parade.

2020 graduate, and junior firefighter (soon to be a senior firefighter) Colby Wivell, told the News-Journal that a Class of 2020 graduation parade will be held on June 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The date was selected because it coincided with the date of the high school graduation ceremonies, had they not been postponed due to the pandemic.

Wivell said the parade will begin at the Liberty Worship Center, and proceed down Carrolls Tract Road, take a right onto Fairfield Road, and proceed through Fairfield Borough to Jacks Mount Road. The parade will then take a right onto Jacks Mount Road to Sanders Road, where it will take a left, and then another left onto Fairfield Road, where the parade will then return to the Liberty Worship Center.

Joining the graduates in the parade will be emergency response vehicles from the Fairfield Fire & EMS, Fountaindale Volunteer Fire Department, and Adams Regional EMS. Wivell said Emmitsburg's Vigilant Hose Company may also send a fire truck.

The parade was initially proposed by Safe & Sane, an organization of Fairfield students' parents.

Regarding the graduation ceremony itself, Fairfield High School Principal, Brian McDowell, announced on May 8, plans to hold "in-person" graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 rather than resort to a virtual graduation. However, at this time a virtual graduation option has not been entirely ruled out as a final resort.

McDowell stated, "The Class of 2020 graduation commencement ceremony is now scheduled for Thursday, July 30," adding, "working with district administration, class officers, and the class advisors, we collaboratively have worked toward selecting Monday, July 6th as the decision day to select the appropriate graduation commencement ceremony plan."

The principal said there are three options regarding the graduation ceremonies being considered.

‘Plan A’ consists of holding the graduation in the high school auditorium. However, McDowell noted if social distancing guidelines are still in effect and do not permit Plan A to occur, "then we will move to Plan B."

‘Plan B’ would involve a limited in-person graduation, possibly at an outside venue. The ceremony could range from all students being six-feet apart inside, or in an outside venue to one student graduating at a time with limited family and guests in attendance.

‘Plan C would entail resorting to a virtual ceremony. "This option would be enacted only if other options were not available due to guidance and restrictions," he said.

McDowell stated that the high school seniors, parents, and district staff would be notified on July 6 regarding the graduation ceremony option selected, along with additional, applicable details.