Graduation ceremonies, proms going digital in 2020

Morgan Meikle has spent years dreaming of the day she could celebrate the end of high school with classmates, friends and family with a graduation ceremony and prom.

That dream ended on Thursday when the province announced schools across Saskatchewan will not reopen for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19.

Suddenly, thousands of soon-to-be graduates like Meikle are left wondering how to mark the occasion with bans on gatherings of more than 10 people expected to last for many weeks.

“All of us just felt like we’ve been robbed,” Meikle said. “This thing that everyone always gets, you know? You’ve waited your whole life for that grad moment.”

Meikle is wrapping up her secondary education in Turtleford, Sask., where graduation day is more than simply a banquet with mom and dad following each step with a camera.

“Grad is huge here — it’s not just walking across a stage,” Meikle said of the half dozen surrounding communities that gather each year to celebrate the new graduates.

“It’s a small town, so there’s not a whole lot that we do other than big stuff, and we don’t get to do any of that big stuff like grad this year.”

Veronica Baker, the communications and marketing manager for Saskatoon Public Schools isn’t sure what graduation ceremonies will look like quite yet, but she’s encouraging parents and students to get creative.

“Virtual ceremonies is certainly one of the things we’re giving a serious look at,” Baker said, adding that conversations with students has stressed a personal touch for each collegiate.

“They really want to make sure that it really is something that’s specific to their students, specific to their collegiate and really kind of honour them. They don’t want to lose those traditions.”

There’s also American graduates going through the experience a month sooner than Canadians due to the scheduling differences in each country, so there are lessons and tips to be learned every day on social media, she added.

Regina Public Schools declined an interview request but did confirm meetings between administration and school leaders were taking place and a plan would be finalized in “a few weeks.”

Putting in all the hours of planning and spending more than $400 on a dress won’t be all for naught at the Meikle household.

Meikle was sitting at her kitchen table earlier this month when she received an email from Student Life Network, a learning and resource hub for recent grads, high school and university students.

The email asked Meikle if she wanted to be part of a virtual prom featuring students from every province and territory. She jumped at the opportunity and joined the prom committee.

“We’re not doing anything and suddenly we get to be part of this live stream,” she said.

Called Prom is On 2020, the virtual prom takes place on May 22 in support of Kids Help Phone. For every student that joins the live stream a donation will be made to the mental health service.

There will be prize giveaways, introductions for the graduates and inspirational messages and congratulations from Canadian celebrities. Completing the special touch is a private DJ set by Ontario-based duo Loud Luxury.

“I’m going to invite a few people over because we’re allowed to have a few people at home,” Meikle said. “We’ll make something out of it.”