Graduating students are walking the runway before walking away from high school for the final time.
Following a year of bottle drives, raffles and a plethora of other fundraising events, Parkland secondary school grad students host Fashion Showcase, where 35 students model clothing, including grad wear, from various Sidney stores in support of their graduation in June.
“The fashion show is our biggest fundraiser,” said event chair Kayla Collins. “I am excited to grad and it is a great opportunity to do a show with your friends. This is the last thing we do together before we grad.”
The fundraiser subsidizes their year-end event, with every $10 ticket sold going toward the price of the dinner, dance and all-night after-grad celebration for the 176 Grade 12 students leaving Parkland in June.
“It is important we raise money for our graduation,” the 17-year-old Grade 12 student said. “It is monumental, and it is sad. It is our last thing together … It puts in perspective we are not going to see each other [anymore].”
Fashion Showcase is open to the public, not just parents and students of the school, and will be accompanied by a silent auction that includes a special ride along with an RCMP officer up for grabs. The predominantly student-driven event takes place at the school gymnasium and foyer April 12.
“I have been really impressed with how committed the kids are to making their year successful,” said grad-parent Karen Blair. “Facing job action [by teachers] they have stuck to their guns and worked hard to have a successful event. It has just been fabulous.”
In the final days before the show, that commitment has been on full display.
“It is called the Fashion Showcase, and it is a great showcase of the Parkland pride we have,” Blair said. “The kids started at the turn of the century [2000] and it is kind of neat to have the first class of the century graduate [in 2012.]”
Tickets can be purchased at the school office or by calling 250-655-2736 for credit or debit card purchases.