Clockwise from top, Chance Fennig and family; Joel Burnett, left, with Rocsyn Bird; and Joel Burnett by himself posing for the school video. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Grad highlights

NBCHS grad week starts off with plenty of smiles

Jun 7, 2021 | 6:17 PM

It was an exciting day Monday for many young grads from North Battleford Comprehensive High School.

Graduation once again had a different look this year to meet COVID-19 requirements.

The event was held at the Dekker Centre with capacity limits in place. Students entered the facility separately and each took turns walking proudly in their cap and gown across the Dekker Centre stage as their family and a few school staff members looked on.

The event was being video recorded by a production company at the same time for a virtual broadcast on June 25, for everyone to view online on the school’s web page.

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Students also posed separately for pictures with their families.

Principal Jay Nichol said the grad event would take place over three days, June 7 to 9.

“With restrictions this year and protocols we had in place, it didn’t work to have outside people in the school at this point,” he said. “That’s why we had to rent a facility outside the school for this year [for the event].”

He said every hour separate grads and their families would be permitted inside the Dekker Centre facility for the grad photos and video production. The space is sanitized after each family group leaves.

“We’re just making the best of everything that we can, and we are really excited to celebrate our students that are graduating,” Nichol said. “Everybody is doing really well at making the best of a difficult situation.”

Chance Fennig, 17, a local rodeo enthusiast, was among the grads having his pictures taken Monday.

He said he misses not having a regular grad together with all his friends and classmates. But he noted at least the students “got something out of it,” by taking part in the video for this year’s event nonetheless.

Fennig will next be attending college in Texas, U.S.A. on a rodeo scholarship now that he has graduated high school.

Joel Burnett, another proud grad, posed for pictures with his family and siblings after taking his walk across the stage in his cap and gown Monday as well.

Burnett plans to pursue Culinary Arts at Saskatchewan Polytechnic next, and is excited about the future.

“I just love cooking,” he said with a smile.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow