Elmwood High plans fitting grad farewell

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This article was published 22/06/2021 (1806 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Despite all of the added work of remoteteaching during a pandemic, staff at Elmwood High School are determined to give their graduating students a memorable sendoff, said Fran Davies, the school’s head of student services.

A drive-through graduation ceremony is planned for June 25 that’s been in the works since February. Planning it has taken plenty of work and, since restrictions have changed several times in recent months, everything was written in pencil.

“We’re cognizant of the fact things might change,” Davies said. “We’re trying to plan a very organized and individualized grad. We want to plan something as interesting as possible which we can loosen (should restrictions relax) later if we need to.”

In 2020, each of the school’s graduates came through the school with 10 people. Several unique stations were set up for them and graduates got to go on stage by themselves, even being announced by their favourite teachers.

“They were spoken to in a way that doesn’t necessarily happen at a normal grad, with staff clapping and a DJ playing music,” Davies said.

Given current health restrictions, even a 10-person group accompanying each graduate won’t be possible, so staff have had to get creative, Davies said.

The families of each of the school’s 78 graduates will receive an appointment time to show up in the parking lot behind the school.

As they arrive, each student will be announced and they will proceed through several stations, where they can pick up their hoodies, yearbooks, treat bags and diplomas.

Students will pose for pictures with their diploma at a designated station and a cutout of Principal Mike Babb will be set up at another photo station. Music will be playing throughout.

If families cannot make it to the school, Elmwood High will come to them, Davies said.

Arrangements will be made to bring everything to students’ homes, where they can have grad in their yards.

Grad is a special day every year, but no more so than now, when the past 18 months have been so hard on everyone, Davies said.

Many of the students have been at Elmwood since Grade 7 and are well-known to many of the staff. But the halls have been mostly empty for the past few weeks, at a time when they are usually buzzing. That’s been hard on the teachers too.

“This is a day we get to be with the families,” Davies said. “I feel like we’re trying to do the best we can.”

Even as restrictions change and teachers are busy with grading and online lessons, they lined up to volunteer for June 25.

“We had every staff member take part,” Davies said. “It was such a bonding experience for all staff.”