Oak Ridge class of 2020 to graduate on Friday

Oak Ridge High School administrators had hoped to give the senior class of 2020 a traditional graduation, but as fate would have it, it isn't in the cards. El Dorado County ruled the first week of July that the traditional graduation planned could not be held, but fortunately, Oak Ridge had a back-up plan ready to go. Drive-through graduation ceremonies will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, as students will drive through campus, get out of their car for a graduation picture, hopefully in their caps and gowns and with their diplomas in hand, and then be on their way. The pomp and circumstance music as well as speeches from the valedictorians will be available on YouTube for seniors to watch and listen to while waiting to get their picture. "It's so sad we could have a traditional graduation, but we're trying to find the silver lining in everything," Oak Ridge Principal Aaron Palm said. "The students and parents were adamant they didn't want a virtual graduation, so I'm glad we can have something like this. We're trying to do everything we can for the senior class." The senior class of about 570 kids was broken into six groups and was assigned a 30-minute window for them to arrive at the school and get their graduation picture taken. Students will enter campus through the upper parking lot by the football field, drive to the quad to get their picture taken, and then leave through the center of campus.