Drive-through celebration a hoot for CCI grads (11 photos)

A pandemic didn’t get in the way of graduating students getting their diplomas at Collingwood Collegiate Institute.

The school’s graduation commencement took place in the school parking lot on Thursday afternoon, where about 200 of the 295 graduating students opted to participate in a drive-through commencement with teachers and staff cheering them on along their route.

“Some students mentioned the idea a couple of months ago. Some teachers also mentioned it when we talked about doing deliveries. So, we decided to to a hybrid,” said Charlene Scime, principal at Collingwood Collegiate Institute.

Students were given the choice of whether they would prefer the drive-through commencement, or have their items delivered. Scime said about 85 students decided to go the delivery route instead.

Students who opted for the drive-through commencement were given a time between 2 and 6 p.m., and were timed one minute apart to make sure all students got their proper send-off.

Students will also be receiving a video to be released at 7 p.m. of a convocation ceremony that is tailored to the school.

“We did as much as we could do to honour and celebrate them now, because we don’t know what the fall is going to bring. We felt it really important to give them an opportunity for celebration and closure,” said Scime.