The Class of 2020 at the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) is truly a special group of young men and women.
The grads were to have their annual ceremony June 12 at Affinity Place, but those plans were dashed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, ECS has tried their part to make this year’s graduation special.
Principal Pat Jeannot said everyone was disappointed not to celebrate grad like they traditionally would have it. So following the directions from the provincial government’s education response planning team, they have taken the video route instead.
“We’re trying to engage our Grade 12s to participate in it. We’ll have the usual addresses and the recognitions that we normally have,” Jeannot told the Mercury.
Jeannot will give his address – the last one he will give before his retirement takes effect at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Valedictorian Julie Frostad will also speak.
There will be cap and gown photos with information on the students and their future plans. In lieu of the grand march that takes place following the main ceremony, the school has asked students to include photos of themselves participating in school activities, spending time with friends and family, or posing for formal photos to mark grad.
“We’d like to have them send those in, and try to make a special gift for them, knowing that this isn’t what they expected from Grade 12, but we’re working hard to try to deliver a nice gift that they can have for years to come,” said Jeannot.
They hope to incorporate band and choral performances as well, but that will have to be done virtually.
Home room teachers have been talking to the grads about when they want the videos, with the choices being the end of June, early summer or late summer.
“The reason we’re asking the grads to tell us when they want it is because we want to give them the opportunity to send in more pictures,” said Jeannot.
If it’s a later deadline, it will give them time to have some formal graduation photos taken by a professional photographer.
The number of photos will determine the length of the video, but Jeannot said it will be shorter than the conventional ceremony.
Grad packages were delivered on June 10 and 11 to students by the school’s bus drivers. Students received their caps and tassels for photos, recognitions for awards and scholarships and messages from government officials.
Each graduate will also receive a $50 gift card from a local business.
“We sat down as a committee and decided we wouldn’t go to businesses to ask for donations, because COVID-19 has obviously hit our business community very hard as well, but we got some money from the chem. free account, and there was some voluntary contributions that came in,” said Jeannot.
Photos of the kids in their caps and gowns will be posted on digital advertising signs in the city, and shown on a loop.
The Mercury will be producing its annual keepsake tribute publication to the grads. This will be distributed by the school.
The grad committee is also working with parent groups on some legacy projects, although those have yet to be finalized.
Jeannot described this year’s grad class as a very resilient group.
“This is a situation beyond everyone’s control. Although the kids are going to be disappointed, this will affect each and every one of them differently, and each and every one of them will find a way to regroup, move forward, become successful, whatever pathway they choose. All of our graduates have goals, they all have dreams,” said Jeannot.
As difficult as the times are right now, the grads all have the skills to pick themselves up, and they have a tremendous work ethic.
Since he’s been the principal since 2014, Jeannot has known most of them since they came to ECS over the past four years.
This year’s theme is Make Your Future so Clear that it is 20/20. Colours will be the traditional red, white and blue of the school.
Prior to COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the school year, Jeannot said they were having a great year in all grades. Grads were involved in high school sports and extra-curricular activities, such as the student representative council, celebration rallies, dances and spirit days.
A reconciliation garden was created in the school’s courtyard, thanks to Wade Kotelo’s art students and Josh LeBlanc’s leadership class. A dedication ceremony was held in late February, with those who supported the project and representatives of local Indigenous communities in attendance.
“It’s there for everybody to read the story of reconciliation,” said Jeannot.
Mark Kroeker secured a new computer numerical control machine for the school’s welding students, and the school’s cafeteria went through renovations to make it more student friendly.
