A 麻豆精选 student鈥檚 petition to reschedule graduation ceremonies is gaining some serious support from fellow students.
Rutland Senior Secondary student Ally Wyllie started the petition on May 4, asking the Central Okanagan School District to reschedule graduation and prom to later in the summer instead of moving the ceremony online due to the pandemic.
The petition currently has 1,797 signatures.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been waiting for (graduation) for 13 years鈥� of course, this isn鈥檛 the most important thing right now but it also is a pretty special day for grads and I speak for many students,鈥� Wyllie said.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 think a virtual ceremony is special enough, and a lot of other grads agree with me. So maybe, let鈥檚 postpone it until August, because we don鈥檛 know what things will look like then. If by August, there鈥檚 absolutely no way of doing it, then fine. At least we tried to get something done.鈥�
She said some alumni from last year have told her to toughen up and accept the virtual ceremony.
鈥淭hey can say that because they had their grad and their walk. They know what it鈥檚 like to have that special day and to be able to cross the stage.鈥�
鈥淏ut most people have been supportive and positive. People are really happy that someone is stepping forward and at least trying,鈥� she said.
Wyllie said it has also been a confusing time. She said the email she got from her school implied physical ceremonies are cancelled, but she also has heard that other schools are trying to work on something.
She added they were told that graduates have to pay to get onto the ceremony conference call.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure which platform they鈥檙e using, but we have to pay to get onto the call. We鈥檝e already paid the grad fees for the year, so having to pay again just seems ridiculous,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hings are starting to re-open and the Interior itself seems like it鈥檚 been ok for the most part. B.C. has flattened the curve. COVID-19 hasn鈥檛 completely gone away but it will calm down and right now, it鈥檚 too soon to make the decision to cancel in-person ceremonies.鈥�
She said she understands that if the situation worsens, an in-person graduation ceremony won鈥檛 happen but at least someone tried to make something happen.
鈥淚f it doesn鈥檛 work, then I at least know in the end, I fought for them and I tried my best to try and get our events postponed rather than cancelled completely. And I think that鈥檚 the only thing that鈥檚 keeping me ok with it possibly getting cancelled, because at least I know I tried.鈥�
Black Press Media has reached out to the Central Okanagan School District. We will provide more information as details become available.
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