LAWN SIGNS HONOUR GRADS
Honk if you support class of 2020
The lawn sign pronouncing Katelynn Akins-durocher as a proud 2020 graduate of General Brock Public School had been staked in the ground only minutes when passing drivers started honking in a noisy show of supportive recognition.
“I think it’s awesome and cool to show they’re graduating since they won’t be having a graduation ceremony,” said Katelynn’s mom, Jennifer Durocher.
The Greater Essex County District School Board had signs made for just over 5,300 students graduating from either the elementary, secondary or alternative learning panels this spring.
“We were trying to figure out where we might do as much as we can for our graduates,” said Todd Awender, the board’s superintendent of education, school development and design. “It’s a different year and they’re not going to walk across the stage. We wanted to at least acknowledge them and let them know we’re thinking about them.”
In-person graduation, as well as classroom learning, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawn signs were made locally by Lacasse Printing and customized to feature the individual school’s colours, mascot and name.
Grade 8 teachers from General Brock were aiming to deliver all 17 graduate signs Tuesday.
Brock principal Anne Adamson knows her seniors are disappointed at not having the more traditional trappings.
“We’re trying,” she said. “The board did the signs for us, which (students) get to keep, and as a school we’ve provided them all with a graduation picture, a Brock 2020 grad T-shirt and a $25 coupon for pizza so they can celebrate with their family.”
Each graduation picture will come with a piece of lace, a symbolic tradition at Brock. The holes in the lace represent the difficulties and challenges in life while the fabric creates the pattern and beauty of life, Adamson explained.
The graduation packages will be available for pickup next week when students will also have a few moments to take pictures with their family or teachers outside the school.
Durocher said her daughter’s sign will likely stay on the lawn of their west-side home for a few days before being moved inside and displayed on her bedroom wall.