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St. Albert teachers help students celebrate grad

Door-to-door celebrations in the age of the pandemic
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DRIVEWAY GRAD – ESSMY graduate Jaden Babiuk displays some of the grad swag presented to him May 15 at his home by school staffers. ESSMY teachers delivered caps, stoles, and diplomas to the nine graduates of the school's high school program last May 15. JADEN BABIUK/Photo

With graduation ceremonies cancelled or delayed due to the pandemic, some St. Albert high schools have gotten creative when it comes to giving their graduates a proper send-off.

Paul Kane is inviting students to get a free grad photo taken this May 30 (the school’s original grad date), said grad co-ordinator Angee Lockhart. Grads will get to come to the school that day at prearranged times to have a pro photographer take their picture in front of a balloon-studded arch with a grad gown, after which they’ll get a copy of the photo and an iconic grad souvenir. The school has rescheduled its actual grad event to Oct. 2.

St. Albert Catholic High planted custom “SACHS Grad 2020 Lives Here” lawn signs at the homes of each of its grads on May 8, which was the day their original grad ceremony was supposed to take place, said principal Damon Clayton.

Teachers were unanimous in their belief that they should honour this year’s grads now, as many of them might not be around for a rescheduled fall ceremony, Clayton said. They put in an order for the signs, got them printed the next day, and delivered them to the homes of all 206 graduates early Friday morning – all without telling the students.

Clayton said teachers got many thanks from families who saw the signs later that day and took pictures with students who were awake when they made the deliveries.

“It was a feel-good for us as well; something we could do for the students.”

The nine members of the Class of 2020 at École Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville had their caps, tassels, stoles, diplomas, flowers and copies of student Jaden Babiuk’s valedictory address hand-delivered to them May 15 by a convoy of about seven teachers and school administrators. Two students even got to put on a grad gown.

“This is ESSMY’s last grad class,” said principal Cathy Giesbrechtthe school’s high school program closes this semester – and the school wanted to acknowledge the efforts of the students. (Just two students got to wear the gown as they only had two gowns on hand, she explained.)

Giesbrecht said the event made for a very intimate and personal grad experience, with some students inviting their grandparents over to take pictures.

“It was a really wonderful day.”

Babiuk said he got to deliver his valedictory address to the teachers from his driveway and spend about half an hour chatting and taking pictures with them. He said it was tough knowing that he would be the school’s last valedictorian.

“Our graduation obviously was stolen from us by the coronavirus and we couldn’t go to our banquets and commencement, but our future is still going to be there for us.”

Giesbrecht said a committee was looking at how to honour its departing Grade 10 and 11 students.

Babiuk said he was disappointed by the high school’s closure, but encouraged his fellow students to do their best wherever their lives took them.

“Wherever you go, just bring what you can bring every day.”


Kevin Ma

About the Author: Kevin Ma

Kevin Ma joined the St. Albert Gazette in 2006. He writes about Sturgeon County, education, the environment, agriculture, science and aboriginal affairs. He also contributes features, photographs and video.
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