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High school graduates won’t be trooping across the midfield stripe at Mosaic Stadium this month.
Regina Public Schools has confirmed that high school graduation ceremonies won’t be taking place at the stadium.
The idea had been considered, thinking the large, outdoor facility would allow a more normal graduation ceremony.
Terry Lazarou, supervisor of communications at Regina Public Schools, said the division had been working closely with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministry of Education and Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), which runs Mosaic Stadium.
But the public health orders around large outdoor gatherings could not be changed to accommodate the ceremonies.
The province will still be in Step Two of the Re-Opening Roadmap when most graduation ceremonies would take place and that means there’s a limit of 150 in attendance and “no objects may be passed between participants.”
Lazarou said there were four things students told the division they wanted in their graduation ceremonies: The ability to actually walk across a stage, that they be able to receive a physical diploma, that they be with their fellow students, and that their families can be there to see it.
The guidelines wouldn’t allow all of those things to happen at a Mosaic Stadium ceremony.
Lazarou said the decision is a big disappointment for the division but it’s still hoping the schools can do something that will be memorable for the students and their families.
The graduations will be held at the schools, with larger classes likely having to have several smaller events. Schools are currently adapting their plans.
Some students are disappointed as well: The valedictorian at Campbell Collegiate has started an online petition to have the decision reversed. The petition had just over 1,100 signatures as of Monday morning.
The Regina Catholic School Division had inquired about graduations at Mosaic Stadium, but decided not to go ahead with things. According to Twylla West, the division’s communications and media co-ordinator, it didn’t want to start planning something that wasn’t certain.
Similar to last year, Catholic schools in Regina will have a live-streamed graduation mass and each school is planning its own cap and tassel ceremony.