Students graduate in ‘creative’ drive-through ceremony
The ongoing pandemic did not deter KGIS. It ensured that the many outstanding achievements of their Grade-12 students were honoured and celebrated as their school careers formally ended
Published: 04:06 PM,Jun 16,2021 | EDITED : 08:06 PM,Jun 16,2021
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The 27 KGIS A-Levels and Oman GED students were thrilled as they participated in the drive-through graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
Families expressed their joy as they drove their children to the stage with total Covid-19 protocol to receive the certificate. Some students have already secured their admission in higher education specialising in medicine, economics and law. Students have also secured offers from institutions like the University of Bristol, Loughborough University and University College Dublin.
Online education has been an accepted situation since the pandemic, but many have missed graduation ceremonies. However, Knowledge Gate International School overcame that dilemma with a drive through graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
The ongoing pandemic did not deter KGIS. It ensured that the many outstanding achievements of their Grade-12 students were honoured and celebrated as their school careers formally ended. As the students prepare for the next stage in their educational journey, there are some exciting moments they can seal the memory of the Class of 2021.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has kept schools closed since March, it has not stopped students from continuing their education or experiencing their graduation.
The restrictions on large gatherings mean that graduation ceremonies have differed from others before them: virtual or drive-thru. The graduation ceremony that traditionally takes place in a large indoor space with graduates walking across a stage to accept their certificates, was uniquely and creatively re-designed by KGIS to retain the enthusiasm, atmosphere and energy much loved by all participants.
KGIS Executive Principal Liz Stanley said, “We wanted to make sure that our students’ successes were properly acknowledged and celebrated. The graduating Class of 2021 will go down in history. A global pandemic dominated the majority of their senior years. But rather than being victims of this pandemic, they have emerged triumphant and resilient. They have conquered every challenge they have faced and have shown that they are the most skilled problem solvers.
They have worked tirelessly to ensure that they gain the university places they deserve, and to deliver what promise to be the best examination results in the history of the school. As a result of the pandemic, the Class of 2021 go out into the world better equipped to navigate life beyond school better than any of their predecessors.”
At the ceremony, students and their families had lined up in rows of well-spaced vehicles in front of the main stage set up on the rooftop car park at the Crowne Plaza (OEOC), set against the stunning backdrop of the Muscat skyline.
Families had decorated their cars, waved flags and held signs congratulating their offspring. The main ceremony was preceded by a drive-by parade with students standing out of sunroofs as school staff and hotel guests clapped and cheered.
The whole ceremony was live-streamed so that families could see and hear everything from the comfort and safety of their vehicles, maintaining appropriate social distancing from others.
One by one the students, dressed in traditional gowns and caps with the addition of their face mask, left their car to receive their certificates to the cheers of encouragement from their relatives. They greeted the School Principal and Head of Secondary from a safe distance. They had their photo taken before returning to their vehicle. The evening ended with a box of refreshments being delivered to each car before pyrotechnic fireworks lit up the sky in a finale.
Stanley added, “We considered running virtual graduation, but after speaking to our students, it became clear that togetherness was the most important thing to them. They wanted the opportunity to celebrate with their friends and family in a safe but exciting way, and this is exactly where the drive-thru concept came from.”
Integral to the huge success of the event and the development of the drive-thru concept was the team at the Crowne Plaza Hotel itself, working in collaboration with Titan Events & Entertainment to plan and deliver the ceremony. Crowne Plaza General Manager Adam Deverson said, “By working in partnership with KGIS to reimagine the traditional student graduation ceremony, Crowne Plaza Muscat OEOC is both proud and excited to restructure our facilities to support the school’s unique and innovative concept here in Muscat.”
For Titan Events &Entertainment, it was also a come back for events, and Shannon Sims said, “We were very excited when we heard the idea, partly because the events and hospitality industry is beginning to come back a little bit. As for the students, the parents and teachers all know about the trouble they faced going through the pandemic and shutdown. Last year students missed out on a graduation ceremony. This year the students, teachers and parents have played their part, and it is nice to recognise them. The day now has become memorable even if everyone was spread out, they were there, and now it is an important memory.”
Families expressed their joy as they drove their children to the stage with total Covid-19 protocol to receive the certificate. Some students have already secured their admission in higher education specialising in medicine, economics and law. Students have also secured offers from institutions like the University of Bristol, Loughborough University and University College Dublin.
Online education has been an accepted situation since the pandemic, but many have missed graduation ceremonies. However, Knowledge Gate International School overcame that dilemma with a drive through graduation ceremony on Tuesday.
The ongoing pandemic did not deter KGIS. It ensured that the many outstanding achievements of their Grade-12 students were honoured and celebrated as their school careers formally ended. As the students prepare for the next stage in their educational journey, there are some exciting moments they can seal the memory of the Class of 2021.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has kept schools closed since March, it has not stopped students from continuing their education or experiencing their graduation.
The restrictions on large gatherings mean that graduation ceremonies have differed from others before them: virtual or drive-thru. The graduation ceremony that traditionally takes place in a large indoor space with graduates walking across a stage to accept their certificates, was uniquely and creatively re-designed by KGIS to retain the enthusiasm, atmosphere and energy much loved by all participants.
KGIS Executive Principal Liz Stanley said, “We wanted to make sure that our students’ successes were properly acknowledged and celebrated. The graduating Class of 2021 will go down in history. A global pandemic dominated the majority of their senior years. But rather than being victims of this pandemic, they have emerged triumphant and resilient. They have conquered every challenge they have faced and have shown that they are the most skilled problem solvers.
They have worked tirelessly to ensure that they gain the university places they deserve, and to deliver what promise to be the best examination results in the history of the school. As a result of the pandemic, the Class of 2021 go out into the world better equipped to navigate life beyond school better than any of their predecessors.”
At the ceremony, students and their families had lined up in rows of well-spaced vehicles in front of the main stage set up on the rooftop car park at the Crowne Plaza (OEOC), set against the stunning backdrop of the Muscat skyline.
Families had decorated their cars, waved flags and held signs congratulating their offspring. The main ceremony was preceded by a drive-by parade with students standing out of sunroofs as school staff and hotel guests clapped and cheered.
The whole ceremony was live-streamed so that families could see and hear everything from the comfort and safety of their vehicles, maintaining appropriate social distancing from others.
One by one the students, dressed in traditional gowns and caps with the addition of their face mask, left their car to receive their certificates to the cheers of encouragement from their relatives. They greeted the School Principal and Head of Secondary from a safe distance. They had their photo taken before returning to their vehicle. The evening ended with a box of refreshments being delivered to each car before pyrotechnic fireworks lit up the sky in a finale.
Stanley added, “We considered running virtual graduation, but after speaking to our students, it became clear that togetherness was the most important thing to them. They wanted the opportunity to celebrate with their friends and family in a safe but exciting way, and this is exactly where the drive-thru concept came from.”
Integral to the huge success of the event and the development of the drive-thru concept was the team at the Crowne Plaza Hotel itself, working in collaboration with Titan Events & Entertainment to plan and deliver the ceremony. Crowne Plaza General Manager Adam Deverson said, “By working in partnership with KGIS to reimagine the traditional student graduation ceremony, Crowne Plaza Muscat OEOC is both proud and excited to restructure our facilities to support the school’s unique and innovative concept here in Muscat.”
For Titan Events &Entertainment, it was also a come back for events, and Shannon Sims said, “We were very excited when we heard the idea, partly because the events and hospitality industry is beginning to come back a little bit. As for the students, the parents and teachers all know about the trouble they faced going through the pandemic and shutdown. Last year students missed out on a graduation ceremony. This year the students, teachers and parents have played their part, and it is nice to recognise them. The day now has become memorable even if everyone was spread out, they were there, and now it is an important memory.”