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graduating amidst a pandemic

High school students will walk the stage, and friends and family can watch

Jun 8, 2020 | 2:30 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—High school students will walk the stage this year, and friends and family will be able to watch.

There are still health measures in place restricting the size of gatherings of more than 50 people. So School District 57 is getting creative with how exactly friends and family can still be a part of valedictory ceremonies.

“It’s like a movie premiere.”— Cindy Heitman, Deputy Superintendent

SD57 teamed up with Russel Audio-Visual to produce valedictory videos. Seven of the nine high schools in the district will have their videos revealed online to students and family, later this month.

“We heard from families that it’s really important they get to celebrate with their child so this is a way they get to see things for the first time with their child,” said Heitman.

In each video students will be shown crossing the Vanier Hall stage, one by one and receiving their valedictory certificates in a safe manner.

“They’ll get marshalled in, physically distanced, get a cue, walk across the stage, pick up their certificate, move the tassel on their cap, and walk off.”— Cindy Heitman, Deputy Superintendent

The videos will include addresses by principals, SD 57 Superintendent Anita Richardson, a Board of Education Trustee, and Lheidli T’enneh Dayi Clayton Pountney.

Other elements will be added to the videos as well, such as the valedictory address, the announcement of scholarship and bursary winners, and potentially, student performances.

“This is an extremely difficult time for our grads and their families. This is not the way our graduates wanted or expected to celebrate the culmination of their time in the public school system. Our celebrations will look a little different but we continue to hope there will be a day we can celebrate in person.”—Anita Richardson, Superintendent SD57

Each family will receive their own copies of the ceremony, after the initial online release.

The 2020 graduating classes of Valemount Secondary and McBride Secondary are small enough to keep their attendance to 50 people or less.