Black Diamond school celebrating its graduates

The smiling faces of approximately 50 graduates will fill a green space along the Cowboy Trail in Black Diamond.

Oilfields High School staff has arranged to have large posters featuring each of its 2020 graduates on the Black Diamond municipal centre hillside in one of the few opportunities the school will have to celebrate its grads.

The Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley each contributed $350 to the initiative, which is estimated to cost $13 per poster.

“It’s a way to celebrate the grads with so much uncertainty and regulations around what we can and can’t do,” said Oilfields High School principal Chet Musgrove. “This is a hard time and there needs to be something positive that comes out of this. We’re going to try to do the best we can with the situation, circumstances and guidelines we have.”

Each poster features a photograph of a graduate, the word “Congratulations” and the school logo, said Musgrove. He expects they will be in place by the end of this week.

Black Diamond events co-ordinator Kelly Tuck said she approached Musgrove insisting that something be done to recognize the graduates on a community-wide level.

“I phoned him up and said, ‘What are we going to do for these kids – we need to do something to recognize them,’” said Tuck. “They work hard.”

Tuck has had two children graduate from the school and one grandchild currently enrolled.

“These are our kids and they’re going to be our next leaders,” she said. “They’re the next generation that’s going to look after our community so let’s look after them.”

In previous years, the Towns contributed funds to the school’s Black & Gold Awards, which celebrates student achievements, but the ceremony was cancelled after the school closed in March. The graduation ceremony was also cancelled.

“We are saddened that our students are being deprived of this opportunity to walk across the stage, but also so proud of their resilience and appreciate their sacrifice of memories and moments for the greater good,” Musgrove wrote in a letter to the Towns, requesting their financial support. “We appreciate the support from our Town Council’s to help our community celebrate these students, to let them know amidst the uncertainty and the sacrifice that we are proud of their accomplishments and excited for their futures.”

Musgrove said he is working with staff and parents to plan a celebration for the graduating class on June 25.

“It’s still in the works,” he said. “We’re making sure we follow Alberta health and safety guidelines. Right now it’s a maximum of 50 people and you still have to have social distancing.”