If there's an O'Gorman High School graduate in your neighbourhood, it will be hard to miss their unique personalized ceremony.
This week, administration is dropping off diplomas and handing out awards to the 72 graduates at the Timmins high school.
When the OHS Knights' bus pulled up in front of Grade 12 graduate Amir Farrokhpey's house, he didn't know what to expect. After the short ceremony where he picked up a diploma and couple of awards, he said it felt really personalized.
“I had no clue what to expect, I knew they were going to come by, but I didn’t know that many people were going to come. It was kind of a nice surprise,” he said.
The 2020 school year was a unique one.
Farrokhpey recalled the number of snow days and teachers' strikes throughout the winter. COVID-19 has had them out of the classroom since March.
"With the teacher strikes it was really hard to get into a flow and especially with this happening at the end, it was really tough to stay motivated and do all your work, but we got through it and graduated,” he said.
Today is the kick off to O'Gorman's 2020 Graduation week.
By the end of the day, 16 students will have received their diplomas.
“We’re really proud of our graduates, unfortunately this is not how we want things to happen but in light of the pandemic you have to do what you have to do and we’re trying to make this as meaningful for our graduates and their families as much as possible,” he said.
To make it extra special, teachers and staff are following the bus around in their vehicles with green decorations, signs and to honk their horns and cheer on the graduates.
“We were one of the first to make this decision and we contemplated whether or not we wanted to have ours at the school...on the field of something. We just felt this was more personal and this way they could stay at home and have a lot more people celebrate when we arrive,” he said.
