This year’s high school grads will surely have a story to tell years down the road to future generations about how their 2020 ceremonies were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
June is normally the month when high school grads gather to receive their diplomas and celebrate their accomplishments. But in the age of COVID-19, gatherings have had to be called off and alternative arrangements have had to be made.
The public school system in the area has had to approach graduation differently as well. Appearing in an interview on Access 7 television, Living Sky School Division Director of Education Brenda Vickers said their school division has been advised “that if at all possible to keep grads virtual, or to stream them and offer graduation ceremonies that way.”
Vickers said their administrative team had talked and had decided they could come up with “unique and tasteful graduation ceremonies virtually and through streaming.” She pointed to one ceremony done in Cando last week, where grads came in to the school one at a time and were physically distanced, and picked up their diplomas.
“Every school has kind of found a way to honour our class of 2020, in a safe, more virtual way” said Vickers.
In the communications report from the Living Sky board’s May 27 meeting, it was indicated that schools are planning a variety of ways to celebrate their graduates, with many hosting virtual ceremonies.
The advantages cited for a virtual ceremony was that it allowed for videos and speeches to be displayed to the graduates and their families, recognized the individual achievements of each graduate and provides personal recognition, and creates a platform where graduates can enjoy a communal moment
There are also plans throughout the month of June for graduates to be mentioned throughout the day on radio, with congratulatory messages running from each of the principals.
A congratulatory letter will also be mailed to each graduating student on behalf of the board of education.
One possibility that was considered was possibility of “drive-in” graduations done in cars. Vickers said the school division had inquired directly with the chief medical health officer about that, but it was ruled out early on.
More recently, there have been some guidelines brought in to allow for drive-in graduations, but “they are so restrictive that I don’t know how much fun they would be, frankly,” said Vickers.
Two other major events scheduled for June, the service recognition awards and the Student Hall of Fame, have been cancelled. The plan is to instead recognize those achievements through media and social media, and with letters mailed to recipients. Pin Cards with Years of Service Pins were to be mailed to staff members during the first week of June. As well, certificates and a congratulatory letter from the Board will be mailed to Student Hall of Fame recipients and a Student Hall of Fame video will be created and shared through the division’s social media channels.
