Vancouver, British Columbia - Graduation is a time for celebration and reflection. It is a time to connect with fellow classmates, thank teachers and celebrate a momentous occasion years in the making. As a young high school student, you see your peers celebrate their moment and you eagerly await your time to walk across that stage. Yet the final months of high school for the Class of 2020 were drastically altered due to COVID-19 taking students out of their schools just before spring break.
With many of the celebratory moments like prom, grad activities, and Senior Nights cancelled, the Britannia community of teachers, staff, and community champions came together to provide the graduating class one final opportunity to come together, walk the halls, and ultimately graduate together.
The Vancouver Basketball Foundation™ was honoured to be part of the Britannia Secondary Graduation Celebration on June 23rd where students were invited back to the East Vancouver school to cross the stage. The Britannia hallways were transformed to create a celebratory walk-through graduation experience. After entering the building, students collected their caps and gowns and gathered (in small, distanced groups) in the student lounge with a photo booth and slideshow. Each graduate had their personal ‘red carpet photo moment’ walking across the iconic skywalk where families could observe and cheer from the outside.
Next was the High School Memories / Hall of Fame, full of pictures of their class from Grade 8-12 along with all of the trophies won in 2020. Then came their big moment to walk across the stage and collect their diploma, awards and be acknowledged in front of school staff. Before exiting the building, each graduate received a Britannia crested bag including their grad photo and an exclusive grad hoodie. The experience was live streamed so that family, friends and the community could join in the celebration, and follow along every step of the way from all around the world.
Congratulations to all of the Graduates of 2020 - the best has yet to come!
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