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By Aaron Schulze

Signs of Acknowledgement

MUCC teachers drop signs of sunshine to grads during gloomy period

May 27, 2020 | 5:10 PM

Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate’s (MUCC) graduating class of 2020 received a literal and figurative sign of compassion from their teachers.

Teachers at MUCC dropped off lawn signs to all 96 of their graduates in 2020. The sign is an alternate public acknowledgement of their graduation, as the traditional in-person ceremony with all the graduates and their loved ones were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MUCC Principal Jerry Heffernan said the teachers saw the idea from another school out of province and intended to hand them out on June 29 – the original graduation ceremony date. Perhaps it was to plant a bright spot amidst the grey, rainy, gloomy weather on May 26 and 27, but the teacher decided to drop off the signs a month early.

“We are so fortunate in our community to have excellent students and parents,” Heffernan said. “It’s so disappointing we can’t do anything in person with them. We’re trying to show that we care and we’re still thinking of them in this difficult situation.”

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Heffernan said the pandemic has been difficult on a personal and professional level. His youngest son is also graduating in 2020. Heffernan said he’s sad for his son and the rest of the graduates who won’t finish their final exams, athletic competitions, and arts performances before they move on from secondary school

“It’s sad in most ways… just not being able to see their friends and teachers every day as they’re ending their high school lives,” he said. “It’s something I’ve never experienced before and I’m really hoping I won’t experience this type of situation again.”

Heffernan said MUCC is organizing a virtual graduation for June 29. He said their hope is host some sort of a graduation exercise in the 2020-21 academic year where teachers and administration can personally recognize all the graduates.

Until then, Heffernan said the next plan is to deliver the graduates their diplomas, caps and gowns, and a picture of their entire class by the third week of June.

One member of MUCC’s grad class of 2020 who didn’t see the sign coming was Avery Weiss. She noticed the graduation sign when she got home from work.

“It was a really nice surprise to see the teachers are still thinking of us and they’re willing to reach out and do something like that,” Weiss said. “It’s nice to know everyone will know who’s graduating because most people know where everyone lives.”

Weiss said she’s still in shock that she and her classmates went from going to school every day and catching up with their friends, to suddenly have their plans halted.

“It’s sad actually… a hit to the heart,” she said. “As kids, we always dream of grad. I spent $600 on my dress, got it altered and ready, and now I get to wear it for one hour for photos. That’s all I get so far.

“There are bigger problems in the world. A worldwide pandemic is serious. People are dying and that’s what we need to focus on, but we still need to keep us in mind too. I feel like [the graduates of 2020] do deserve something too, whether it be a socially distanced fire or barbecue, or a ceremony. Whenever we receive one, it’ll be the right time. It could be in the fall or near Christmas, but I think it’ll be well deserved for sure. We worked so hard for this.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow