After another 106 days in lockdown, our children have again missed out on many important school events in 2021. But with restrictions easing in NSW, we now have to make the most of what we’re allowed to do before the school year is over! We’re sharing our ideas for COVID-safe end of year school celebrations & graduations.
With Covid in the community and tight restrictions still in place for schools across NSW, it’s important that students can still find a way to celebrate graduations and other important events.
If you have a child in Year 6 or Year 12, we are here to help you make this milestone as memorable as possible. Here are some COVID-safe end of year school celebrations & graduations.
1. Graduation Ceremonies
While the traditional school assembly to farewell the departing class is unable to go ahead in person at the school, students and teachers still have the opportunity to make the them feel special. Here are some ideas for Covid-safe end of year school celebrations:
Virtual graduation ceremony
While parents and family can’t attend in person, the school can set up a socially distance ceremony for just the students and allow parents and relatives to join on Zoom. Be sure you have someone dedicated to filming the ceremony for parents watching from afar, and a strong internet connection. Don’t just pass this job to a teacher at the last minute!
Small graduation ceremony
Instead of getting the whole year together and involving parents and other guests, split up the ceremony into smaller groups. Film each ceremony, so each student can go home and watch it with their family or with a small group of friends and still celebrate.
2. Last Day Of School
A big part of that last day is having parents, family and friends there to celebrate with the student. With no school assembly for parents to attend with flowers and other presents in hand to gift their graduating child, or other events allowed to mark this occasion, it’s time to get creative.
A socially distanced arch
Set up a ‘socially distanced’ arch to see them off. Have kids standing 1.5m apart and letting the graduating students run through one at a time to the cheers of other kids. Add music or a live band to add to the emotion!
With parents not allowed on site, perhaps some of this tunnel can take place on the footpath outside the school?
Tour the school passing each classroom
Get each classroom to draw and colour farewell signs for their schoolmates. Post these up on the windows on their last day. Get the graduating class to do a lap around the school, with the kids inside the classroom cheering as they go past.
A festive school pick up
Get a teacher on the microphone, and get them to say a farewell message to each student as they’re picked up by parents and friends on their final day. Friends and family can decorate their cars, and organise an official photographer to take photos of this special occasion.
3. School Formal
The preparation that goes into a formal and school dances is half the fun. Kids begin discussing what they’re wearing, who they’re bringing, pres and after parties, months before the event takes place. It’s a topic of hot conversation throughout the year! Here are some ways kids can still enjoy a school formals part of their Covid-safe end of year school celebrations:
Formal pods
Originally created as study pods to keep kids connected through lockdown, formal pods are now being set up to host smaller scale, mini-formals that abide by the restrictions in place.
Make the ‘pre’ party into an intimate formal at home!
Instead of hosting the traditional pres at someone’s house before a formal, organise a smaller formal at someone’s home. It still gives students the chance to dress up and see their friends, just in a different way.
Unlimited guests are now allowed into households, as long as all parents are vaccinated. View the latest restrictions.
4. Mementos
So many memories are made in these milestone years of schooling, and kept for years and years to come. With many events cancelled, it has been a lot harder for students. Here are some ways to create those special memories and keepsakes, while being COVID-safe:
Photo Wall
Get inspired by the 2020 Year 10 art students at Mercy College in Chatswood, who created a very special photo wall as a graduation gift to their Year 12 Graduates for 2020. The ‘Mercy Together’ project was inspired by the well-known artist, JR who uses black and white portrait photographs of everyday people or people in difficult situations to confront controversial issues, raise awareness and bring people together.
Here’s how it was done:
- Year 12 students were photographed making funny faces. A few students each held a letter to make a message (in this case, “Mercy Together” and “Good Luck Yr 12 2020”).
- Teachers were photographed looking down (as if looking down on the students)
- Photographs were printed in black and white on A3 paper
- Printed photographs were stuck to a prominent wall within the college grounds, using homemade glue made from cornflour, vinegar and water.
Video montage
Put together a video interviewing current Year 6 or Year 12 students, asking them questions about their time at the school and what’s next. Put these videos together and play them via Zoom across the school.
Time capsule
What better time to put together a time capsule. Get every student in the year to fill one out, focusing on the current events and what the year has been like for them. Set a date to open them in the future. This creates excitement at the idea of getting back together with their classmates again one day in the future, while also giving them something to look forward to. It seems less final when you arrange a future event!
School photo
While some schools are still going ahead with school photos, others have missed out. With some good photoshopping skills, you can still get that whole year picture to keep as a memento. Get every student to send in an image, or better yet, have a photographer on hand to take photos of the kids one by one. Crop them all together and it’s the perfect gift.
A socially distanced photo in face masks!
Have fun! Never has any year being through what our graduating students are right not. Get them together for a socially distanced photo with masks on as a great memento of the year.
5. Graduation Dinners
Another highlight of the year that has changed. Thankfully, we can still get out and about to celebrate. It’s about changing expectations and making the most of what we can do in these times. Here are some great alternatives to the typical graduation dinner to make a part of your Covid-safe end of year school celebrations:
BYO picnic on the school oval
With plenty of outdoor space to enjoy, students can still socially distance in smaller groups, while being part of the graduating class community.
Socially-distanced barbecue
Another way to make use of the outdoor school space while creating some socially-distanced memories.
Dinner at home or in a restaurant
Get together as a small group of school friends to celebrate with a special meal!
- You could have it at home and get the meal catered (all the parents can chip in!) – with 20 max visitors allowed.
- Or organise a meal at a restaurant – currently 10 people allowed at a table. You can get a small group together and still enjoy a meal out to celebrate!
Got any more suggestions on how to have Covid-safe end of year school celebrations? Email us today, we’d love to hear your ideas!