GRADUATION SPECIAL

Okotoks school creates outdoor display

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown all types of events for spring 2020 into disarray, including high school grad ceremonies.

But that hasn’t stopped Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks from making sure its graduates feel special.

Principal Vince Hunter and a group of six or so teachers created a poster of each of the school’s 400 or so Grade 12 students and put them on display this week.

“We felt like we needed to do something right now because it felt like a lull,” says Hunter. “Kids just seemed to be kind of struggling.”

The feedback and response

We felt like we needed to do something right now because it felt like a lull. Kids just seemed to be kind of struggling.

have been incredibly satisfying and emotional, says Grade 12 vice-principal Derek Markides.

Students and parents have been stopping by, taking photos of the display and sending emails of thanks. “We have spent a lot of hours talking about how we celebrate 2020 grads,” says Hunter, noting more projects are planned but are under wraps so they stay a surprise for the students. The project — organized in about one week — represents work from “a bunch of people who care and wanted kids to know they matter,” he adds.

The educators note that the project has also been rewarding for them. It gives them a chance to do something special for the students they value and to create an installation that has generated excitement in their town.

JIM WELLS Grade 12 student Emily Penzo walks by grad photos outside Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks. A committee at the school hatched a plan to have the school’s multiple grad photos enlarged and put on the front lawn. The feedback and response have been incredibly emotional and satisfying, says Grade 12 vice-principal Derek Markides.