Riverside graduation compared to last years
Everything that is happening and happened with the recent Riverside graduations.
by Veronica Phillips
This weekend, Riverside Secondary School made an announcement. Students in grade 12 will now be able to have a grad dinner and dance. Bonnie Henry announced that the Lower mainland can now have certain types of bigger gatherings including graduations. Now the grade 12s can have their well-deserved graduation.
According to the Government of BC, “Graduation ceremonies qualify as “educational activities” and are therefore allowed to continue in alignment with the PHO Gathering and Events Order and the K-12 Health & Safety Guidelines. … Outdoor ceremonies are encouraged, wherever possible.” This means that the Grade 12s can in fact have a real graduation.
Last year the grade 12s at Riverside did not have a proper ceremony due to covid. Their grad events were very simple and not nearly as exciting as in the past. As they still wanted to do something and most of the female students had already bought their dresses, the grade 12s still had get-togethers. These celebrations were planned by the students themselves, and not very big. They did however get a small ceremony at the school. This was also very different from most years. Grads would walk throughout the school, walk across the stage quickly, then receive gifts. Only a limited number of family members could watch the graduate walk across the stage, and sadly, friends were unable to watch each other.
Luckily, this announcement has allowed the grade 12 graduates of 2022 to now be able to do things the way they normally would during grad season. If nothing changes for the worse, it is likely that the school will agree to this. If they do, then once again Riverside Secondary will be hosting a grad dinner dance for all graduates to attend like usual.
Most schools like Riverside decided against this opportunity out of precaution for the year 2021. This year, because of the increasing number of vaccinated students Riverside will if nothing changes-most likely, allow grade 12s a regular graduation.
According to Nicole Phillips, a grade 12 student at Riverside, “Grad is supposed to be back on as normal this year as long as the covid cases stay down.”
