The COVID-19 outbreak is likely to force the cancellation of this year's graduation ceremonies. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

graduating class of 2020

Alternative options for grad ceremonies being considered at local, provincial level

May 1, 2020 | 3:38 PM

It does not appear Saskatchewan’s students will be returning to the classroom anytime soon.

This has some people asking about how the graduating classes of 2020 can be recognized.

At a recent council meeting, Ward 8 Coun. Ted Zurakowsky floated some possible ideas to his colleagues about how the city could recognize students. Zurakowsky, a teacher himself, said there will be over 1,000 students in the city and surrounding area who will not celebrate their graduation in a formal ceremony.

“For some of these kids it’s going to be one of the most important moments of their lives,” he said.

The councillor floated the idea of possibly using the city’s digital billboard to display the names or images of graduating students. Zurakowsky said he understands there are possible barriers to this — specifically privacy. He added he is optimistic there are plausible ideas and hopes students and teachers will have some to contribute.

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“What can we do as a community with the support of the school division to honour their graduates?” he said.

Robert Bratvold, director of education for Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division, said they are working to see what they could possibly do to recognize the class of 2020.

“We’ve had conversations with the high school principals, who have lots of conversations with their staff. There are a variety of possibilities being considered,” he said.

Bratvold said they will be abiding by any guidelines laid out by public health officials. The education director said it was too early to discuss specifics. He explained the division has 11 different high schools within its boundaries, which are both rural and urban.

The issue is also being discussed at a provincial level, Bratvold said. He said various ideas have been pitched, including postponing graduation ceremonies until the fall or finding a way to hold virtual celebrations online.

Bratvold said they know it will not be possible to do anything close to what they normally do, but said the moment can still be made special.

“We can still, I think, celebrate the graduates with their families in some way,” he said.

Lorel Trumier, director of education with the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, said they are looking at at doing something to recognize this year’s graduating students. She was not able to provide specifics but said the division is looking to come up with something that complies with current public health guidelines.

“We were working with and communicating with the proper authorities to try to look at the different strategies we could use,” she said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhkskcdn