Unique BFHS graduation is Saturday
BONNERS FERRY — This year’s high school graduation will be historic, and hopefully, the only one like it for years to come.
“There will not be a Grad Night, unfortunately,” said Michael Youngwirth, BFHS senior class president. “All of our senior events at the end of the year were canceled for our class.”
Issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has caused students and staff at Bonners Ferry High School to be very creative in how they have had to approach academic needs as well as the cumulative end of a students K12 educational journey; the graduation.
“The BFHS graduating class of 2020 will, in fact, be getting graduation,” said Youngwirth.
The BFHS graduation ceremony is scheduled for at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at the Boundary County Fairgrounds and will be live-streamed and recorded.
For this year’s graduation, students and family will be permitted to drive to the site, and get into the line of vehicles. Graduates and family must stay in the vehicle until the group of vehicles are escorted to the high school at 10:40 a.m.
Once at the high school, families will be instructed to park. The student with one family/guardian member will be allowed to exit the vehicle to walk to receive the diploma cover and take a photograph after which the student will be allowed to walk to pick up the diploma from a staff member. When this has been completed, the student and family/guardian will return to their vehicle and leave the school grounds.
Youngwirth said that students have mixed emotions regarding the change in this year’s graduation ceremony.
“As far as how we’re handling it, it has varied from person to person for sure,” said Youngwirth. “Some were devastated to hear we wouldn’t be having a traditional ceremony or any senior events, and others just want the year to be over with so we can move on.”
Youngwirth explained, “Knowing we’d miss out on the chance to make the same memories as those before us was definitely a blow.”
Grad Night is one of those memories that 2020 graduates will not be able to enjoy.
“We are, however, taking the money that would’ve gone toward the prizes for grad night, and splitting it equally among the seniors,” said Youngwirth. “We asked every one of them what local business they’d want a gift card for, and we’re in the process of getting them all.”
Regardless of the changes to this year’s graduation ceremony and the absence of grad night activities, the 2020 BFHS senior class will be unique and memorable.
“I personally think it’ll be one to remember,” said Youngwirth. “I’ve heard whispers, however, that some people plan to skip the ceremony because ‘it’s just not the same,’ but I want as many seniors there as possible.”
Youngwirth, along with other class officers and advisors, the BFHS principal and superintendent of Boundary County School District 101, Jan Bayer, met for weeks to discuss and plan the graduation ceremony.
Youngwirth said, “Given the situation we’re in, I’m glad we’re celebrating at all.”
“They earned it, we earned it, and I hate to even think of the fact that they might miss out on this major milestone,” said Youngwirth. “All in all, I understand people’s frustrations, but I really just want us all to work through this and make it out the other end as a community.”
For more information on this year’s graduation ceremony, please contact the Boundary County School District Office at 208-267-3146.