Vernon students to hold their own drive-in movie theatre graduation

The Vernon Christian School is holding its own drive-in theatre-style graduation ceremony, complete with a giant movie screen and even their own take on the iconic Hollywood sign.

"(The students) are excited to celebrate this chapter of their education," Vernon Christian School advancement coordinator Savaya Hofsink told iNFOnews.ca. "What's so special about it, is they can do it together."

The school had booked Enderby's Starlight Drive-In movie theatre to hold the celebration, but amended rules for outdoor drive-in events introduced at the end of May caused the movie theatre to cancel the graduation event.

However, the Vernon Christian School decided with its small class size it could hold its own on the school field. The school asked Interior Health and got the thumbs-up.

The school has 425 students from preschool to Grade 12, so its graduating class of 29 students fits the mark.

"We've got enough to celebrate and be a class but not too many we can't make it work," Hofsink said.

Kelowna company, Outside Cinema, was then hired to provide the big screen and all the equipment needed.

Everything from the valedictorian speech to the grads walking across the stage is being filmed in advance and then will be shown at the graduation ceremony, scheduled for June 16.

Parents and students have even put together a white Hollywood-style sign which reads, VCS GRAD 2020.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.