Catholic board nixes Ford's proposal for outdoor graduation
Organizing such ceremonies in just a few weeks not feasible, say surprised officials
The Ottawa Catholic School Board will go ahead with plans already made for Grade 12 graduation ceremonies while waiting for more details on Ontario Premier Doug Ford's promise that all children can have outdoor ceremonies to mark the end of this pandemic school year, says an official.
Ford proposed the idea of outdoor graduations during a media conference earlier this week as he announced that schools would be closed for the rest of the year.
Ford said the ceremonies would be a chance for kids to “meet with your friends, reconnect outside, before the end of the year.
“We'll be working with school boards and health officials to make sure we can have outdoor graduation ceremonies for all students in all grades this summer, rather than just 8 and 12.”
The idea caught school administrators by surprise.
The logistics of planning safe outdoor ceremonies for all children with only three weeks left until school closes are challenging.
A spokesperson for the Ottawa Catholic School Board said it would not be feasible to have outdoor ceremonies even for its Grade 12 students, which might involve 200 to 300 people.
“Even during non-pandemic years, we don't go with that option due to the logistics involved with chairs, stages, AV equipment, etc. and the fact that in a school year, we don't have the luxury of alternative rain dates,” said spokesperson Sharlene Hunter.
The board has planned virtual ceremonies for Grade 12 students. In addition, each student will be allowed to come into their school, one at a time with two or three guests, to receive their diploma.
The board held similar ceremonies in October 2020 for last year's graduates.
At the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, spokesperson Darcy Knoll said they were “awaiting clarification from the Ministry of Education on this topic and will be consulting with local health authorities as well.”
The current pandemic guidelines limit outdoor gatherings to five people.
When the province enters Stage 1 of the reopening plan, expected around June 14, the limit increases to 10 people.
The Ontario Education Ministry says it will change regulations to allow the outdoor graduation gatherings at schools. However, the decision is up to the boards. “While school boards will ultimately make this decision in consultation with local public health, our government is strongly encouraging and enabling safe outdoor and in-person graduations to celebrate Ontario student achievement,” Caitlin Clark, spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce, said in a statement.