The graduation that wasn’t supposed to be, may turn out to be something extraordinary.
Schools from across the Foothills area have gone the extra kilometre to ensure the Class of 2020 will have something to remember in what is a milestone of its members young lives — COVID-19 be darned.
Of course, six weeks ago, all of the plans for graduations were to have some kind of virtual grad at the respective celebrations — nice but a bit like getting a pair of socks for Christmas.
However, thanks to some creativity from school administrations something as close to a traditional grad will take place.
Holy Trinity Academy has come up with a graduation, which is as neat as taking in a summer drive-in.
Grads and families will attend in one vehicle at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, on June 26, where they will park and take in a ceremony — including a speech from principal Carmen Ostafichuk, which will be broadcast live thanks to the good folks at the Eagle 100.9.
Meanwhile, smaller Oilfields High School — with less than 50 graduates — will hold a ceremony outside at their football field.
While respecting physical distancing, the Driller grads will have a chance to see one another in a non-Zoom, semi-traditional manner.
Foothills Comp with its more than 375 grads were somewhat compromised because of the size of the Class of 2020.
However, principal Vince Hunter and vice-principal Derek Markides did their own magical mystery tour by visiting each of the members of the Class of 2020 to say a farewell on behalf of staff.
The Class of 2020 will have a day to remember on this day — hey, not your biggest day, that has yet to come.
Congratulations to the graduates and to the respective school staffs for a class act.
