Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Jill Sperling

CLASS OF 2020

Kamloops students take altered graduation plans in stride

May 26, 2020 | 4:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — Graduation ceremonies have begun for Grade 12 students in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Rashika Subedi is among the 190 Valleyview Secondary School graduates receiving their diplomas this week.

“We have studied a lot and we have been planning for our grad so much,” she said. “Well, it didn’t turn out as we wanted, but it’s really great and I’m really thankful to my teachers that we did it this way.”

Due to COVID-19 each student is given a time slot for when they and their families can enter the school.

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“Really, what we’ve done is we’ve taken the process, which would normally take about two hours and we’ve stretched it right out,” said Principal Barb Hamblett. “So this is taking about five days for us to do, but we’re isolating each experience individually.”

The students are allowed a small cheering section of those living in the same household. The graduates won’t be celebrating their successes alongside their classmates, but have plans to do so at a later date.

“We can do that anytime later,” Subedi said. “We are planning for a certain amount of people to do it after everything is over.”

Valedictorian Sydney Krueger was initially disappointed to be graduating without her friends by her side.

“It’s not like I’m not going to get to see them,” she said, “and we have our own grad stuff planned, it’s just going to be different than what we thought, but I don’t think it’s going to be any less special.”

Krueger will be taping her valedictorian address on Friday (May 29).

Each mini-ceremony is also being recorded to be presented to the grads at a later date. “I think people will be amazed when they see the final project done,” Hamblett said. “The video will have that vibe of everybody being together. But, by having each student honoured individually, you end up with something that is really quite cool.”

For the students, the graduation ceremony is one last chance to step foot in the school they will be saying goodbye to.

“I have heard many people are doing online (graduations),” Subedi said. “It’s better than being online, it’s really nice to come back to school and see the teachers, and then see your school, and getting your grad photos and everything, I’m really happy for that.”