One of the lawn signs provided to grads for their "Grad in a Bag" (Photo: Liam Verster)

By Liam Verster

Grad Celebrations

GP Comp staff delivers ‘Grad in a Bag’ to students

May 15, 2020 | 3:00 PM

The May Long Weekend marks the time the Grande Prairie Composite High School would usually be holding their graduation commencement ceremony, however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions limiting gatherings and cancelling classes, they had to get creative and find an outside-the-box way to celebrate their students.

They are doing this by having staff and teachers drive around town, delivering ‘Grad in a Bag’ to the students in the Grad Class of 2020.

GP Comp’s Principal, Dennis Vobeyda, says, “In that ‘Grad in a Bag’ they’re receiving a certificate of achievement, their mortarboard and tassel, their grad cap. A lawn sign that recognizes them as a Composite High School graduate, a little mini banner that states they are the ‘Skip Day Champions,’ for a little levity. We also provided some photo props to capture the family celebration, and a little ‘Secret Garden’ key and plant, that ties into their graduation theme, along with some party poppers and a flashlight.”

Vobeyda says they’re encouraging the students and their families to take celebratory photos, and post them on social media using the hashtag #GPCompGrad2020, #YouAreTheSkipDayChampions and #gpab. The families are also being asked to send in some photos to the school, which will be used for a slideshow during the graduation ceremony in June, as well as be displayed on billboards around Grande Prairie over the long weekend.

Vobeyda adds that he’d like to thank the businesses who normally use the digital billboards to advertise, who have given up their spots for the pictures of the grads free of charge, as well all the companies that helped put together and support this project.

He says the past two months have been very disappointing for all the staff and students, but especially for the grads, who have seen their events and celebrations cancelled and that he’s very proud of the strength of character they’ve shown despite the pandemic.

GP Comp will hold its graduation ceremony virtually on June 19.