Graduation

Graduation 2020 will look very different. There will not be any in-person convocation or formal grad celebrations this spring. Instead, we are asking that families follow all Alberta Health Services guidelines to plan their own special events with their graduates. We hope that what our staff are planning for graduation will support your student in celebration, while allowing for our community to remain safe and healthy. 

1. Grad in a Box: We are currently planning to offer each graduate a "Grad in a Box" that we will fill with the things that are special to their graduation celebration. We are aware that for the items we have ordered, any delays in shipping due to COVID-19 challenges may interfere with our plans. We will do our best to ensure that everything arrives on time, and that the commemorative items make their way into your graduate's box of keepsakes. At the very least, the things that we hope to include are: Churchill Grad Cap & Gown that your child was measured for; Churchill Graduate Pin; and the Commemorative Certificate in a Document Holder. 

Pick-up dates & times: We are finalizing the dates and times for Grad in a Box pick up or delivery (based on your needs). 

2. Special Grad Video: While nothing can replace the excitement and sentimentality of an in-person convocation and grad celebration, we are still planning for an event where we can all be "together" at the same time. The Churchill staff are preparing a grad video that we will release on the evening of Thursday, June 25th. This video will be available for anyone to watch from the safety and comfort of their own homes while following all recommended guidelines for physical distancing and group size restrictions. Family, friends, and loved ones can all "tune in" to watch the video at the same time; it will feel like we are together, despite being apart. We hope the video can become one part of your special evening of celebrating your graduate! Note: the video will be available online to view at any time following June 25, 2020. 

Video release time: The Special Grad Video will be released on the evening of Thursday, June 25th; time is to be determined. 

3. Grad Fee Reduction: To reflect the shifting costs associated with our graduation celebration this year, our school has made the decisions to reduce our grad fee. Our original grad fee was $75.00 and our new grad fee will be $50.00. Any families who have already paid their fees can expect a $25.00 refund from the school. For those who have yet to pay their grad fees, this amount will be changed on School Cash Online.

Note: All grad fees have been added to School Cash Online for grade twelve students. These are currently payable online. If you would like to make other arrangements, please call the office (403-328-4723) to speak with our Business Manager, Laura Kerr.

4. Student Contributions to Grad Video: As the Churchill staff moves forward in producing a Grad Video (streamed for everyone to view simultaneously on the evening of June 25th), we want the most important people - OUR GRADUATES - to be featured. We are asking that everyone who is able to, submits two types of videos. A) One is a formal wear "reveal" video similar to the trend on TikTok...students can take a reveal video that shows them in regular clothes, then reveals to them in their formal grad attire. B) The second video is a a one-liner that the graduate submits about anything grad-related. This brief "Ode to Churchill" is a way for the graduate to celebrate their accomplishments, congratulate their friends, thank someone who got them through it all, or to say goodbye to Churchill (please keep these to one line). All submissions should be emailed to GradWCHS at Gmail.com. 

Note: The deadline for students to make submissions for the grad video will be midnight on Sunday, June 7th. It is important to us that we get our videos to the production company on time.

Hello students and parents/guardians,

Some of you have reached out to me regarding Grad 2020 - thank you for connecting! I don't have an update at the moment, except to say that we continue to monitor the global pandemic situation. Any guidelines around social distancing, crowd size restrictions, and the public gatherings will come from various levels of government. Our school, and school division, will share more information as it becomes available. I know that this response can be frustrating. Our primary focus right now will be on the safety, health, and wellness of our Churchill Family, and of course student learning, as we move forward. If more information regarding Grad 2020 becomes available, I will share it just as soon as I can. 

-Aaron