Class of 2020 gets their spotlight with filmed valedictory ceremonies

Ceremonies have already been getting recorded throughout the week.

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

Sid Jawanda, Principal at Duchess Park Secondary School, said the process was complex given the ever-changing guidelines being laid out by the Provincial Health Office.

“A few weeks ago, we decided on this idea and decided that this was the best possible way – within our guidelines – that we can honour these students, and it will give us a consistent process for all of school’s in the city so we’re not all having to create our own program.”

Schools that will have videos made for them are the Centre for Learning Alternatives, Prince George Secondary, D.P. Todd Secondary, College Heights Secondary, Duchess Park Secondary, Kelly Road Secondary and Mackenzie Secondary.

In each video, students will be shown in their caps and gowns, crossing the stage one-by-one and receiving their valedictory certificates in a safe manner. For all of the above schools except Mackenzie Secondary, that portion of the filming will be done at Prince George’s Vanier Hall and will capture a very basic procedure.

Each grad will have their time in the spotlight following a year with so many unforeseen changes, something that despite the circumstances may still turn out to be a good thing for the Class of 2020 according to Duchess Park’s valedictorian Kiersten Mikkelsen as she and many of her classmates look to pursue post-secondary studies in the fall.

“Having our last few months kind of taken away from us, that’s been hard,” explained Mikkelsen. “But it’s been good, it’s allowed us to try new things and figure out more about how we work, like online. It’s been helpful, I think. For next year, especially online for university courses.”

That perseverance by students this year has been a rewarding experience according to Jawanda, admitting there’s much that we as a community can learn from.

“One of the successes of our system as a whole, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, is our ability to help students persevere through things like this and have that self-confidence to know that they’re going to get through it, and this too will pass and they’ll come out great on the other side. So for society, for our community in general, I think if everyone has that mindset, we will get through this and we’ll be somewhat better at the end of it.”

For seven of the nine high schools in the district, videos will be revealed online to graduates and families at specific times later this month.

The 2020 graduating classes of Valemount Secondary and McBride Secondary are small enough to keep attendance at more traditional ceremonies at 50 people or below, a number mandated by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Valemount Secondary held a ceremony (which was also live-streamed) on June 5 and McBride Secondary has one scheduled for June 20.

by Ethan Ready

Class of 2020 gets their spotlight with filmed valedictory ceremonies

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