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In a class of their own: Grad 2020 in Hope

Hope Secondary’s 2020 graduates celebrate like no other grad class in recent history

It was a graduation day like no other for Hope’s class of 2020 this past Saturday.

Amid continued restrictions on gatherings of over 50 people, as well as continued warnings on staying physically distanced, many graduation ceremonies across B.C. were cancelled or went online.

With innovation and planning from Hope Secondary School teachers and administrators, flexibility and willingness of graduates and their families to tone down festivities and a whole lot of luck with the weather, Hope’s 43 graduates were able to experience this major milestone together.

The class of 2020 swapped a flashy prom and a massive graduation ceremony in the gym, for a Saturday, June 6 car parade under the beaming sunshine, a physically distanced cap throw on the lawn in front of the school and a whole day of individualized ceremonies.

Hope’s graduating class lined up along 4th Avenue around 11 a.m., then waved and smiled as a parade of cars decked out with balloons, signs and photos celebrated them at a distance. After the parade, grads assembled on the lawn outside Hope Secondary, forming the number 20 when viewed from the sky. A drone flew overhead, capturing the grads waving up towards it and throwing their caps into the sky after strict instructions not to touch anyone else’s cap when they fell to the ground.

Afterwards the families disbursed, one family carrying their grad away sitting atop a convertible for their own family parade through Hope’s streets. They would return, in groups of up to 10, to attend an ‘individualized ceremony’ where each grad walked through a balloon-festooned arch to receive their diploma and have their cap tassel moved from left to right.

Graduate Faith Johnny, waiting in line outside the school to attend her individual graduation with her 10 guests, said she felt kind of nervous. “It doesn’t feel like I’m graduating because it’s not the same as it usually is,” she said. ” I just thought I would be more excited.”

Leading up to graduation day, Johnny had been thinking about what was going to happen around this time and whether she and her classmates would be able to have a graduation at all. “I’m glad the teachers and staff really made the grad class feel special, they really went all out with everything they could do,” she said.

Despite the uncertainty of this time, Johnny has her plans for the next few years mapped out. She plans to take a gap year to work, then onto university to study social work either at Vancouver Island University or Langara College. She eventually plans to come back to the Hope area as a social worker.

For some graduates, the new format didn’t seem to phase them. Chantelle Mercier said it was less scary than she would have imagined a large-scale graduation ceremony to be. Mackenzie Berg agreed, the individualized ceremonies suited him as it was less of a public, showy event.

The class of 2020 had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic not only at grad, but also throughout the last few months of their Grade 12 year. This involved a lot of online learning, as well as keeping physically distant while at school.

“I feel like it’s harder for the people that are more social, but I don’t think we are,” Mercier laughed. School has been easier, she said, doing things through technology and listening to instructions via email and video.

“For people like me it’s been areally good time, because you don’t have to socialize with people anymore,” Berg agreed. “I just like focusing on the work, doing it at home.”

Berg is going onto a plumbing program, looking towards a Red Seal certification, after graduation. For Mercier, the near future looks like working and saving up for a place of her own.

Counsellor Erin Wilkins has seen her fair share of graduation ceremonies. “Make no mistake, I miss everybody all in the same place,” she said. “But this is definitely more personal, it’s got that small town feeling which I really like.

Which is weird, I don’t want there to be COVID, but this is great.”

Luckily Hope is small enough, Wilkins said, that individualized ceremonies are a possibility.

It made for a more than 8 hour day Saturday for teachers and staff gathered, and at least 20 speeches by Wilkins including a rendition of Never Gonna Give You Up for grad Tyson Goglin.

“(We) asked staff to send me something about each student, like what will you remember,” she said. “It’s that extra added touch to make it something unique. I mean, they’re never going to forget grad 2020 but this makes it a little bit extra special.”

Wilkins has known most grads their entire high school career, some since Grade 7. While it’s an exciting time, “they take a little piece with me, every single one of them,” she said. “For some of them, I have to take a deep breath so I don’t cry. It’s emotional, I think, for all teachers.”

Boston Bar Elementary Secondary School has one graduate this year - Austyn Campbell. Graduating from the Two Rivers Education Centre are 12 students, who will be celebrated virtually through a video ceremony.



emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com

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