Principal of Osoyoos Secondary School, Scott Tremblay, and Vice Principal Brad Burns drop off a sign at a grad’s house on June 9. Photo: Facebook

Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Osoyoos Secondary School’s (OSS) class of 2020 is going ahead with a modified, semi-traditional ceremony on June 25 which is sure to be a one for the history books.

For the 2020 graduating class of 36 students, OSS has students crossing the stage and receiving their diploma with their families. Six family members per family are able to attend the diploma presentation photo session, and can get photos of their children receiving the diploma on the theatre stage with principal Scott Tremblay and vice principal Brad Burns, while grads will be able to celebrate their graduation with their classmates in the theatre.

Later a full graduation ceremony will be presented for students on the stage as graduates will be seated in the theatre.

“So we have tried to recreate the best we can a graduation ceremony that involved all the major pieces,” said principal of OSS Scott Tremblay.

“Because of the smaller class size, we are able to have live speeches by district staff and teaching staff. Therefore, we are able to have a more traditional graduation ceremony that has most of the elements of our regular ceremony that would normally be taking place in the gym.”

The graduation ceremony will be live streamed (links at the end of the article) and an edited version of the graduation ceremony will be given to each graduate as well. Also, there will be two group photos, a cap and gown group and cap toss courtesy of MountainWest Photography.

Staff have already made the effort to make the 2020 graduation unique for students putting lawn signs up at grad’s homes earlier this month. The signs were purchased by the school to celebrate the successes of 2020 graduates with Tremblay and Burns designing the signs with the guidance of a printing company and nine fellow school staff hand delivering the signs to all the graduates on the morning of June 9.

“It was a nice tribute to not only our graduates, but the parents that have academically supported their children for the last 12 years,” Tremblay said.

There will be at total of 26 OSS staff members helping with the graduation ceremony, “so all hands will be on deck helping and supporting our graduates,” Tremblay said.

“Brad and I have tried our best to organize a graduation ceremony that will highlight the successes and memories of our graduates in a meaningful and thoughtful way.”

Where to watch:

The live stream of the ceremony can be viewed on June 25 at 5 p.m. at the following links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blade9films/posts/3386436578056004

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/live_stream?channel=UCTNPKpnpCjeGAX053qLwVFw,

or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTNPKpnpCjeGAX053qLwVFw if the first one doesn’t work.

OSS Graduation Schedule

Date and Time: Thursday, June 25 at 5 p.m.

Place: OSS Theatre

The Graduation Ceremony has three parts:

  • Drop-Off Graduates by Family- Diploma Presentation for Families in the theatre (Families will be taking photos of the diploma presentation in the theatre) Graduate wearing Cap and Gown
  • Graduation Ceremony in the theatre (filmed and live streamed)
  • Graduates Group Photos in cap and gowns in OSS’ south field at the Wall

Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00am to 1:00pm– Graduation Rehearsal and Cap and Gown Pick-Up in Theatre

Thursday, June 25 at 3:28- 6:30pm– Family Diploma Presentation and Graduation Ceremony

3:28pm-4:45pm– Family Drop-Off Graduate and Diploma Presentation Photos in the Theatre

  • Alphabetically and allocated times, graduates (wearing cap and gown and formal attire) will be dropped off by their families at the entrance to the OSS theatre (east doors).
  • Parents will park their cars in the parking lot, starting in front of the main doors to theatre (east doors).

5:00pm-6:30pm -Graduation Ceremony in the Theatre filmed and live streamed to Facebook and Youtube by Kenton Gilchrist’s film company, Asymetriq Productions INC.  Live stream links will be emailed out to families on Monday, June 22nd

Graduation Ceremony Contents:

  • Presentation of the Graduates- Mr. Tremblay
  • Opening Remarks- Mr. Tremblay
  • Land Acknowledge- Mr. Tremblay
  • O’Canada- Sung by Jade Highmoor
  • Live Speeches by SD 53 Assistant Superintendent, Marcus Toneatto and SD 53 Trustee, Brenda Dorosz
  • Pre-Recorded Speeches by Osoyoos Mayor, Sue McKortoff, MLA, Linda Larson, and MP, Richard Cannings
  • Diploma, Scholarship and Bursary, and OSS Awards Presentations – Mr. Burns
  • OSS Speeches:
  • Teacher- Mrs. Girgan
  • Historian- Cole Kress and Halle Foster
  • Valedictorians- Alex Brunner and Aidan Nelmes
  • Closing Remarks and Presenting the Graduates of 2020- Mr. Tremblay and Mr. Burns

6:30pm– Graduates Photos at the south field by the Wall in cap and gown.

6:55pm- Graduates picked up at lower parking lot.