Cruising to the end

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This article was published 22/06/2021 (1751 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This year’s graduation plans include cars, red carpets, and connecting from a distance.
High schools in Pembina Trails School Division are set to host pandemic-altered graduation ceremonies for their second consecutive year.

Grad committees have departed from the traditional, formal decor and have put extra effort into making the events festive and colourful, according to Lise Denis, the vice-principal of Vincent Massey Collegiate.

“We want to really go over and above,” she said. “Our kids have lost so much throughout the year. They’ve heard the word COVID over and over and over again, so we purposely are leaving that word out of (graduation) day.”

“Let’s kind of put all of that behind us for a day and really just have some laughs and joy,” Denis said.

She and Gemma Skelton, the vice-principal of Fort Richmond Collegiate, have been swapping ideas as they’ve planned their Grade 12s’ physically-distanced send off.

Seniors of the two schools will pick up their caps and gowns at least four days early. This way, they can take pictures around town with family.

Vincent Massey Collegiate’s 340 graduates will parade around the school on Tue., June 29 for their drive-thru convocation. Each youth can sign up for a 15-minute slot; a photographer will take pictures of them grabbing their diploma before they return to their car and continue on the route.

There will be a red carpet, stanchions, balloons, cookies in gift bags, and — if families are up for it — over-the-top vehicle decorations. The day will be livestreamed on the school’s website.
Fort Richmond Collegiate’s roughly 395 grads will experience a similar convocation on Fri., June 25. They, too, will follow a drive-thru path, get out to walk a red carpet, and receive their diploma. Each senior’s gift bag includes a cookie, yellow rose and FRC 2021 face mask. Family and friends can watch via livestream.

“We’re very proud of our grads; they’re extremely resilient,” Skelton said. “Each time the plan gets changed a little bit, they respond very patiently and very maturely, and they come up with lots of creative solutions.”

Pembina Trails Alternative High School has around 30 graduates. The smaller number allows time for each student at the drive-in grad to stand with their diploma while staff read a personal, but shortened, paragraph about them. The youths will also have a picture opportunity at a photo station, and they’ll get a high school hoodie.

“We can’t overstate how much our staff are doing to make this grad as special as possible for our graduates and their families,” said Ted Fransen, the CEO and superintendent of education for Pembina Trails School Division.

New this year are virtual ceremonies in lieu of grad dinners and parties.

Vincent Massey Collegiate grads can pick up lasagna from school, bake it at home, and chow down while watching speeches, toasts and awards live on June 25.

The evening before, Fort Richmond Collegiate students will munch on school-provided popcorn while listening to music from a local DJ, watching farewell videos and playing virtual games.

“We’re really proud of what we’re doing, and we hope that the students are happy with the end result,” Denis of Vincent Massey Collegiate said.

The vice principals plan to continue streaming grad ceremonies post-pandemic so family and friends in all places can attend.