HUMBOLDT — Due to the pandemic, rather than having one large ceremony, the Humboldt Collegiate Institute held 84 individual graduations so each student could walk across the stage.
“Due to the size of our graduating class, there isn’t a gathering that we can have – we just can’t. Health restrictions are pretty clear about these things,” said Cory Popoff, the school’s principal. “So we thought, ‘What if we were able to invite one family to a time into our commons area and have a mini-ceremony.’”
The ceremonies took place from June 8 to 12.
The mini-ceremonies, which took place from June 8 to 12, were open to family members, with the restriction of having a maximum of 10 people in the room at a single time. This included both Popoff and the student.
“They’re in their graduation regalia, their name is announced, they come up to the stage, [and] they receive their scroll from me from a distance,” Popoff said.
Each graduate received their diploma with an extended clasping device to avoid close contact.
“We had a couple of photo opportunities after and then we allowed the families to take any pictures that they liked.”
Using pictures from the different ceremonies, a single collective video will be put together for the graduates.
Popoff said families have expressed thankfulness that the school has been able to have some sort of ceremony for the students to go through, but they still wish these precautions weren’t necessary.
“We feel the absolute need to recognize this in the form of a ceremony because we do feel it’s a great big deal for us, and it’s a great big deal for our students and our families – and our community, to be honest with you.”
Should COVID-19 restrictions ease by the fall, Popoff said that the school will plan an additional gathering that allows for the full class to be together.
“They wouldn’t need to be in their regalia, they could be in their suits and their dresses, but we would have a celebration, for sure,” he said. “But it’s all just contingent on the rules allowing us to do so.”
Popoff said that while setting up 84 graduations takes more time, it’s worth it when their faces light up to see the students again.
“It’s a tremendous feeling and it’s worth every bit of effort.”
