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Vol. 15, No. 30, Wednesday, June 24, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Novel graduation ceremony takes place at Lamont High Virus couldn’t ruin the moment for grads ing of the accommodations, she felt BY JANA SEMENIUK Graduation ceremonies took place at open to other options. “I understand a lot of grads happen Lamont High School over four days in June, but maybe there could have this week from Jun. 22-25. Adjustments were made to the cele- been something bigger in September. brations in order to accommodate We definitely would have been open to health restrictions for the Covid-19 having something in September,” she pandemic which included each of the said. As each family was limited to the 50 graduating students booking a time slot to enter the school building, number of members that could attend receive their diploma, take some pho- the ceremonies for each graduate, difficult decisions sometos and leave the buildtimes had to be made. ing so the next gradu“It was a little inconate could enter. venient for Ilyssa “It’s disappointing They really did because she came from because of the situation that we are all in. But the best with a split family so she a ton of siblings there’s been a number what they had. had and family on both of staff at Lamont High that have stepped up Some schools did- sides,” said Thrower. In addition to family and done as much as n’t do anything. members unable to they can, with what attend graduating cerethey have, to make it - Jodie Derksen monies, a number of the best for all the elected officials, kids,” said parent Rob including MLAs, were Thrower. Thrower’s 18-year-old daughter Ilyssa is part of also declined an invitation. The comthe Lamont High graduating class of munication department at Elk Island Public Schools explained the adjust2020. The family lives in Chipman. Staff prepared families for the ments via email. “Traditional graduation ceremonies adjustments by not only communicating clear instructions in a letter home, and banquets were cancelled throughout the Division. The alternate graduabut also by an instructional video. “The video helped to reassure the tion programs put in place at high kids to how things were going to go,” schools included only select teachers said Ilyssa’s step-mom Jodie Derksen. and school staff, graduates and a small “It made sense. There won’t be 600 group of the graduates’ invited guests chairs in the gym, there will be six. so that the restrictions on indoor gathThey are comfy chairs though, not hard erings could be observed. It’s worth plastic. They really did the best with noting that even EIPS’ publicly elected what they had. Some schools didn’t do school trustees declined participation so that the maximum number of gradanything.” Although Derksen was understand- uates’ guests could attend,” they said.
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Lamont High 2020 grad 18 yr old Ilyssa Thrower stands near her grad photo as she prepares to enter the high school and take part in her time-slotted graduation ceremony. Thrower is one of the 50 graduates at Lamont High who experienced adjusted graduation ceremonies this year in light of the COVID 19 pandemic.