Fairmont seniors enjoy graduation tradition after all
KETTERING — Advisory teachers passed out caps and gowns to their seniors Thursday night, upholding a storied graduation tradition at Fairmont High School even as it faced cancellation due to the coronavirus.
Each freshman is assigned an advisory teacher upon entering Fairmont and that teacher is their homeroom teacher for all four years.
“The advisory teacher is the person who typically hands a senior their diploma at graduation,” district spokeswoman Kari Basson said.
Local high schools have canceled most of their spring events and either canceled or postponed graduation ceremonies due to coronavirus concerns, but Fairmont officials found a way to not part with a longstanding tradition this year.
On Thursday evening, with social distancing guidelines firmly in place, advisory teachers passed out caps and gowns to seniors in the three parking lots at Fairmont High School.
Christine Fine, lead teacher in the Kettering Alternative Program, said Thursday’s moments between the students, parents and teachers will be cherished.
“Seeing all my students made me so happy, and even though it was out of the ‘norm,’ it didn’t seem to damper the true spirit of it! My students were so happy and proud of themselves. I cherish that and them,” Fine said.
Advisory teacher and ISS Coordinator Heather Boyer is pleased to know the seniors were able to continue the tradition.
“I was so happy to see all of my senior advisory students. I loved talking with them, seeing all of their smiles and giving them a fist bump one last time,” Boyer said. “It was an overwhelmingly positive experience for seniors who have had such a unique ending to their high school careers.”
Fairmont Principal Tyler Alexander said the social distancing rules didn’t dampen the spirits Thursday and the smiles of the students proved that.
“It was great to see our senior students, even if it was in a drive-thru format,” Alexander said. “It is unfortunate this group of students had to end their time at Fairmont in this way, but it was exciting to see the smiles on their faces when they got to receive their cap and gown from their advisory teacher.”