Hilltop High grads celebrate in unique way

“I know this year has not lived up to the expectations we had when we pictured our senior year, four years ago, when we walked into Hilltop High School for the first time,” spoke Hilltop High School Valedictorian Emma Schlosser. “I can assure you that when I dreamed of delivering this speech, I never pictured it through a camera.” However, there she was, dressed up in her cap, gown, and golden Valedictorian sash, standing in front of a camera and speaking into a microphone. It may not have been the speech graduates were expecting, but her words rang just as true as if she were standing right in front of them.

“This year has brought many challenges upon us. However, despite being COVID Grads, we have overcome this year with great fortitude proving our ability to adapt to the drastic changes brought upon us in 2020.” With a friendly smile and quiet excitement, Schlosser delivered a beautiful send-off to her fellow graduates and reminisced a little about the teachers that made her four years extra special. The entire three-minute speech can be heard in its entirety on the school’s website, under School News, and hopefully, each graduate, and their family, can take the time to listen.

On Friday, June 26, Hilltop graduates took turns walking across the stage to accept their diplomas, which was something that seemed impossible to imagine even just a few short weeks ago. After receiving the go-ahead to hold a small version of the ceremony, Hilltop staff worked to create something unique, and what they ended up creating was more than anyone could have imagined. “This is amazing! It is personal for the kids and intimate for the families. The parents come so close to the stage,” spoke principal Brent Northcott.

The process allowed for one student to enter the gymnasium at a time, with a small group of loved ones, and receive their diploma in an intimate setting. There were a handful of teachers and staff seated in the audience, and as each graduate entered, they were introduced and cheered for, loudly. “It’s a different experience for them, but at the same time, it shows them how much we as staff care about their children and that we are going out of our way to congratulate them,” explained Northcott. “This class has lost 25 percent of their year. We have been able to show them that we miss them and that we are so proud of their accomplishments!”

Given how crazy the last few months have been and how much the COVID Grads have dealt with, it almost seems funny to look back on the moment and be grateful for the opportunity to change things up, but that’s exactly what people were feeling. “It is positive. Usually, we would have about 2000 people at the arena, and the grads would walk across the stage, and we would have the slideshow and speeches. It’s been a different way of doing things, but it has gone very well.”

After each graduate received their diploma, they, along with their loved ones, left outside the back door of the gym. Since it was bright out and the gym was dark, it gave the appearance of walking out into a whole new world, which was a neat touch. “I would like to wish them the best of luck for the future. We are proud of all their accomplishments. This grad class has achieved over and above many others, and these kids are going places,” smiled Northcott.

Assistant Principal Sarah Van De Kerckhove said that getting to see the kids was fantastic. “We haven’t had that opportunity since March, so just seeing them here today, and to be able to celebrate them, is just phenomenal.” She and Northcott were both up on the stage to congratulate each graduate as they received their diplomas, which made for a long day. “We get to share in their happy moment! We didn’t know if this was going to be an event because we were looking to the fall. So, to be able to celebrate them in June as we normally would on this day is fantastic, even though it’s a different kind of celebration.”

If they have yet to do so, students and family members can watch the grad slideshow, Valedictorian speech, dignitary speeches and more by visiting the school’s website www.hilltophigh.ca. Since Schlosser started the article with words from her Valedictorian speech, it seems fitting for her to also end it with a fittingly poignant thought about being COVID Grads. “Although 2020 has not been the most ideal time for us to graduate, I believe it may have been the year we all needed to realize our true potential as a grad class.”