With schools not re-opening for the 2019-2020 school year, the public school board director of education says it's 'highly unlikely' face-to-face graduations will be allowed in June.
At today's District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) meeting, Lesleigh Dye explained what could be happening at high schools in the board due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are about 500 graduating from 11 programs in the district, with ceremonies usually held between June 15 and 30.
“First and foremost in DSB1, if we are permitted to do face-to-face graduations in June we will certainly do so. Based on the announcement today that schools are closed, I would think that that is highly unlikely although we will continue to work with our health units on that,” she said.
The schools are split between a virtual and physical distancing graduations.
“We have asked our principals and our vice-principals to work very closely with the students and what we’re seeing across our district, then, are graduations that are very tailored to what the students are asking for,” said Dye.
According to Dye, virtual graduations are planned for Pace, Iroquois Falls Secondary School, Kirkland Lake District Composite School, and Kapuskasing District High School.
Physical distancing ceremonies will be held at Hearst High School, and Cochrane is considering a drive-in ceremony. Englehart High School and Timiskaming District Secondary School are looking at community graduation parades, in addition to other student activities, said Dye.
For schools hosting virtual graduations, she said they are committed to bringing all of the graduates back to celebrate face-to-face when it's safe.
“It will not be a repeat of the graduation, but it definitely will be a celebration of our graduates,” she said.
