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The Class of 2020 at Lampman School might not get to have a conventional graduation ceremony like their predecessors, but that doesn’t take away from the significance of their accomplishment as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

The school’s annual graduation ceremony was cancelled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen students are part of this year’s graduating class, and the theme was to be The New Chapter of their Books Begin.

Principal Annmarie Rosner said the graduating class is filled with leaders, team players and positive role models,

“ These 13 kids are pretty wonderful. I’ve only known them for a short while, but each one of them has left a mark on our school and in their teachers’ hearts,” said Rosner, who is wrapping up her second year as Lampman’s principal.

Even though they never planned it, they have become “Pioneers of resiliency,” she said.

These also are students with strong voices and great ideas, and Rosner expects they will do great things in the future.

Katie Weinrauch is this year’s valedictorian.

Even though the school can’t have a traditional ceremony, plans are still in place to honour the graduates. The school and the school community council have purchased Grad 2020 banners, with pictures of the graduates, to hang up on Corrigan Road – the stretch of Highway 361 that runs past the school and is a main road in the town. The banners have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive next week.

“ We are looking at working with the families on what they would like to see in a type of a tribute video to the grads,” said Rosner.

Videos would include the student bios that the parents write, and then a bit of a tribute from the teachers. Lampman School would also acknowledge the scholarship recipients.

Rosner said the school wouldn’t have felt right if it didn’t offer some kind of a tribute to the graduates’ accomplishments that they will put together with the help of the parents.

Gr ad planning and classes at Lampman School came to a sudden halt when COVID-19 arrived in Saskatchewan in mid-March, and the resulting uncertainty soon settled in. Since then, Rosner said the members of the Class of 2020 have been working diligently on their online learning classes, applying for scholarships and post-secondary opportunities, testing out the workforce and spending time with their families.

“The class of 2020 is one we won’t soon forget. I know it feels like your graduation celebration was taken away from you, but please don’t let unprecedented circumstances beyond your control dictate your memory of this very special time,” Rosner said. “Lampman School sincerely wishes our class of 2020 the best as the New Chapter of their Books Begin.”

Students and family members have handled the adversity of the past two months well, Rosner said. They found out March 16 that classes would be suspended and the traditional school year could be over.

The provincial government has since confirmed that students won’t return to the classrooms until September, at the earliest.

“It was an uncertain time in the beginning, and there were so many questions with no answers, but I think as we’ve moved into it, and they’ve started (online) classes, and they started building rapports online and in different ways, I think they’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Prior to the shutdown, the school year was going very well.

There was a senior band trip to Minnesota for the University of Minnesota Concert Band Festival; spirit days and school dances that were popular events; volleyball, cross-country and curling seasons that were successful and fun; a trip to Agribition in Regina in November; a Reading and a Muffin Literacy Event; school celebrations to mark the 50th and the 100th days of the school year; a Rocks and Rings curling program in the school; and a competition to dress homeroom teachers up as a Christmas tree.

A n e w b a n n e r w a s painted in the gymnasium to remind people that Lampman School is the home of the Grizzlies.

The majority of their students have opted in for some form of distance learning, and they have had great involvement in the last few weeks.

Kennedi Laub

Lainey Dube

Linnea Mack

Cheyenne Siebert

Years of hard work have led you here today, and we’re honored to celebrate with all of you. We wish you the best as you take the next step. Thanks for making us proud!