The 22 high schools in the Southeast Cornerstone School Division are looking at a virtual form of graduation this year due to the impact of COVID-19, with the possibility of a celebration later in the year if it's possible.
(The photos above show last year's Weyburn Comp grad, which will not be held in the same way this year, with speeches prerecorded for a grad video.)
The school division sent out a letter to all grads and parents last week explaining that this will be the only possibility for grad this year, said education director Lynn Little, although the division is investigating whether a drive-in type of event might be possible.
“It wouldn’t have been a letter of our choice in any circumstance,” she said, noting the school division is following the recommendations laid down by the Chief Medical Health Officer for the province as they work through the pandemic.
The school division received an update late on Friday, providing guidance for a drive-in style of grad ceremony, but Little noted the division is studying this to determine if there are liability and insurance implications to holding such an event. The division is seeking direction from the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, as it would apply to all high schools across the province.
If a school does go in this direction, the restrictions around it are “incredibly stringent”, added Little. “We would like to see if this is applicable to schools or not.”
Some of the guidelines for a drive-in event include the following conditions: Event organizers must have measures in place to ensure people maintain two metres of separation if they need to leave their vehicles; vehicles must be separated by a minimum of two metres; access to washroom facilities must be limited; people leaving their vehicles to use the washrooms must maintain a minimum of two metres of separation from others at all times.
At the Weyburn Comprehensive School, organizers are lining up students to provide pre-recorded speeches for a graduation video. Grads are being asked for volunteers for speeches including the tribute to the parents, tribute to the teachers and school, tribute to the girls and to the boys.
Organizers have a deadline of May 27 for the names, with preliminary copies of the speech to be in by June 5 and the final copy by June 12.
The school division’s recommendation to the high schools currently is to have a virtual or live-streamed grad ceremony. As each school has a different-sized grad class, it will be up to each school to plan and set up the ceremonies.
“We recognize the disappointment for the grads by the parents, staff and communities,” said Little, adding if any community plans for events outside of the virtual ceremony, such as a parade or other event, “it would typically not be set up or sanctioned by the school.”
“None of us relish the thought not to have a face-to-face grad. We’re going to do all that we can,” she said, noting the plans for grad will be very similar at most of the high schools, depending on the number of grads in their Class of 2020.
