On Wed June 25, my daughter’s class had a grad ceremony at Kits Community Centre, instead of Hudson, due to the strike/lockout. This turned out to be quite the adventure because the ceremony was basically cancelled and I had not worried too much because I felt there was little I could do. Then I got a call from a dad, who I’ve know since my daughter was 3, who said, “I have a contact with Kits Community Centre and we can hold the grad there. You know lots of the parents and I need your help.” Like any good project manager I said, “confirm the date and time 100% and then I’ll act.” So the date was confirmed and there was a mad scramble to get the event put together.
Part of what pushed me to make all the effort was speaking to my daughter. I asked her if this was important to the kids. She said casually, “Oh yeah; some of the girls bought their dresses months ago.” Gasp, I thought. Here we go. That was Wednesday June 18. By Friday I had asked for a special day off from work that allowed for family obligations too complicated to do from your desk. This turned out to be a brilliant act of intuition.
You see, on the Monday June 23, one of the parent organizers, who is a Canadian Press writer/reporter, said to me in email “were the teachers invited?” She thought it reasonable they could go as it was not on school property. “I invited them,” I replied, “but they said the union would not let them go.”
The Mom/Reporter wrote this to me in email. “WHAT!?! I’m totally making that a story. I’m putting the Hudson ceremony on the calendar to alert the media, So they might show up, if that’s okay.”
What was I going to say? I told her to make it a story.
On Tuesday received calls from the CBC Producer of The Early Show as well as calls from a different Canadian Press reporter. I did over the phone interviews. The CBC asks me to come down Wednesday morning for an on air interview. Next they asked for a child’s view. I made my daughter call the producer and they chat. Next thing I know both of us were scheduled for an on air interview.
Wednesday morning at 7 AM we’re downtown (easy parking, mind you) and at 7:12 we’re on the air. My daughter spoke so well I figured I could have stayed home in bed. My son and wife were on the other side of the booth cheering us on. Rick Cluff, the show’s host, was tickled pink with the material.
At 7:25 AM I get an email from local CTV personality/reporter Mi Jung Lee asking if it’s OK if cameras come to the ceremony. (She and I had talked in the past about the strike and prior to that fundraising for playgrounds.) What was I going to say? Sure, bring the cameras. It’s at this point that I realize wearing my good suit that I got for my sister’s wedding was a good idea.
But, we had to get the amp and keyboard for the accompanist, set up and receive parents and the kids all in a 45 minute window. All the parent helpers appeared doing tasks I assigned and the ceremony was great. I chatted with the Asian media outlets, was hooked up we started the 1 PM ceremony at 1:08. My wife (the choir director) sang with her handful of choristers and one song was called The Show, by Lenka. Check out the lyrics here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHKDCqnH_7M
By sheer luck, the lyrics were totally appropriate and amused the reporters.
We got out of there by 2 PM and took the equipment back. At 3:30 we took the grads to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. That had been planned since May and was supposed to be the only parent event. Gasp.
As we were changing out of our good clothes into park clothes, my daughter said, “Now, I feel ready for High School.”
So, I guess that was the point, eh?
Links:
CBC Podcast. Slide to 1:22 on the file
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/British+Columbia/The+Early+Edition/ID/2467810524/
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/2.1141/ctv-news-at-six
You have to Find “CTV News at Six for June 25: Hit and run part one” It’s at about 6:30 on the file.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1413260/parents-try-to-save-b-c-grad-ceremonies/
http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=1e53b6b6-df78-49aa-9388-52d32853ecba
To the whole Ford family and grads of Henry Hudson School – Congratulations! You are the reason why I got into teaching in the first place. You inspire all and make everyone around you proud to know you. All the best in high school, Carolin! If you are as eloquent in your classes as you were on the radio – you will be great!