DUNROBIN – It’s been a challenging year to be a school student in 2020. COVID-19 has ruined a lot of important milestones on top of the devastating effect it has had on people’s health and the economy.

June is normally the time West Carleton Online visits all the schools documenting graduations in all corners of West Carleton. Not so this year. West Carleton schools were closed in mid-March due to the pandemic and did not re-open the rest of the year. All graduation ceremonies for 2020 were cancelled.

West Carleton Secondary School (WCSS) has made an effort to make sure the Class of 2020 gets the respect it deserves despite not being able to host a graduation ceremony.

“Congratulations Class of 2020 – we are so proud of your incredible accomplishments,” Principal Shannon Adams released in a statement. “It’s a different kind of year, but we’re excited to celebrate your success.”

As part of Capping Off 2020, every graduating WCSS student will receive a graduation cap/mortarboard and grad swag. In addition, a Congratulations Class of 2020 sign was been installed at the school.

“The sign is a great place to get a photo of you in your cap – but please remember to stay safe and ensure appropriate physical distancing rules,” school officials said. “If you have grad messages that you want the school and district to re-post/share on social media, use the hashtags #cappingoff2020 and #ocdsb and tag your school. We will re-post and share these on school and district accounts.”

The staff of ‘West’ also created a special message graduating students you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9FYr3lj9Rk

For photos of all of the graduating class look here: https://wcss.emmell.org/emmell/gradLayout/

St. Michael’s Fitzroy Harbour also created a special video for its graduating class you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K347J_xFtfI&feature=youtu.be