By Karen Cay

Celebrating 2020

Light of Christ Catholic Schools Celebrate Learning

Jun 16, 2020 | 9:16 AM

Typically, the month of June features track and field days, award celebrations, year-end concerts, farewell celebrations, Kindergarten celebrations of learning, and grade 12 graduation.

While these are not going to be what anyone imagined them to be, or even wanted, Light of Christ Catholic Schools have still found creative ways to finish the academic year.

John Paul II Collegiate will be hosting a virtual graduation and Mass on June 29, 2020. His Excellency Bishop Albert Thévenot of the Diocese of Prince Albert will be the Celebrant for Mass. In preparation for the virtual graduation, JPII graduates, were each individually welcomed to the school over a 3 day period where the received their caps and gowns followed by an opportunity to walk across the stage to accept their diplomas and awards. While the traditional large group cap toss could not be a feature, graduates were able to keep their caps and gowns for a number of days in order to visit family or have additional photo opportunities. Another unique circumstance for the 2020 graduates was the opportunity to have a parent or guardian assist them with their caps, gowns, and collars. This is usually reserved for teaching staff due to the large number of graduates and limited space but in this year, it provided a unique opportunity for additional photos and a moment of intimacy between parent, guardians, and graduates.

Track and field events this year went virtual too. École Monseigneur Blaise Morand hosted a virtual track and field meet while Notre Dame School hosted a family wellness challenge. Families from both schools rose to the challenges and participated with great enthusiasm. Many sent in photos of their success and some even created videos that can be viewed on the school Facebook pages.

Kindergarten students, who will graduate in 2032, also will not have a typical celebration of learning event but will receive a special “Class of 2020 Quarantined Kindergarten” t-shirt. Some schools have already hosted or plan to do a walk-up event while others plan to personally deliver greetings and gifts to each student. Additionally, students have continued to provide service throughout the community as recently as this past week when Kindergarten students for École Monsigneur Blaise Morand dropped off food donations to the Battlefords Lighthouse.

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For undergraduates at JPII and those students in all schools involved in extracurricular activities, awards nights and wrap-ups have also moved virtual. For example, Notre Dame School has invited all choir members to gather together via a Google Meet for a final opportunity to sing together. While this concert will not allow everyone to hear the beautiful harmonized voices, it will allow the choir members who are departing for high school to say goodbye.

Oftentimes, grade 6 and 7 students are honoured with awards and a special slideshow or video acknowledging their accomplishments. This will still be the case in LOCCS schools but these celebrations will also be moved either online or onto student driveways. In some cases, schools have already posted pictures of their departing students on the doors of the school or throughout their community.

As supplemental learning wraps up this coming week, do not be surprised if you see more teachers in your neighbourhood or more activity around your local school. The school year is not ending the way that anyone imagined it would, but it is still ending in celebration.