Picture Butte High School staff with signs displaying the faces of graduating students on Saturday, May 23 2020 (Photo courtesy of Picture Butte High School)

By Justin Goulet

Picture Butte High School staff cheer on Class of 2020

May 25, 2020 | 11:47 AM

PICTURE BUTTE, AB – Graduating students at Picture Butte High School (PBHS) received recognition from school staff on Saturday – albeit in a slightly unconventional manner.

Saturday, May 23 was the original graduation ceremony date for the Class of 2020’s 23 students. Unfortunately, due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, a full-on ceremony could not take place.

So, staff at PBHS decided to do something different.

“We asked them [students] to come to the school at 8:15 [p.m.] and all they knew is that we were planning this surprise event. They didn’t know what to expect,” said Deanna Ward, office administrator.

“When they got here, we had the fire department and the police here, and we had them escort them [students and their families, in their vehicles] around town for a little parade.”

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Ward added that each graduate received a ‘Class of 2020 graduate lives here’ sign from RE/MAX, and they were all entered to win a $1,000 bursary from RE/MAX.

Each student was also given a balloon labeled ‘Congrats grad’ to attach to their vehicle.

Firefighters and police escorting graduates and their families during the event (Photo courtesy of Picture Butte High School)

When returning to the school, students were given a rose and escorted by staff – serving as ‘parking valets’ and social distancing monitors’ – to the back of Picture Butte High School to watch a tribute video in their vehicles, drive-in style.

“Kids weren’t allowed out of their vehicles, and they watched the tribute that we put together for them, and then they all drove out and they went home,” Ward explained.

She added that it was nice to see the students in-person on Saturday, even if it was from a distance.

Graduates and their families were treated to a video package in the back area of the high school (Photo courtesy of Picture Butte High School)

“It was good for all of us. It was good for the staff and the kids…it’s been a while since we’ve actually seen them,” she told Lethbridge News Now.

“You know, the remote learning is quite different than in-school instruction, so it was nice to, even from a distance…to say hi to them and talk to them and help them celebrate their special day.”

Vehicles in the back-lot of the school (Photo courtesy of Picture Butte High School)

She said feedback from all involved has been extremely positive.

“Both parents and students have contacted us and are very appreciative of what we did, and we are still trying to plan an actual full celebration for the grads,” she remarked.

“It was a beautiful day and it turned out to be a nice evening and everyone enjoyed themselves, so that’s all that we cared about – was making sure the kids still felt special on their day.”

PBHS’s tentative date for a full graduation ceremony and celebration is August 29, but Ward said that will all depend on what COVID-19 related regulations are in place at that time.