The Gimli High School staff has announced they will be conducting 2 separate graduation ceremonies, without considering the values and beliefs of the current and future students at the school. Having been split apart for the past 2 years due to the pandemic, the majority of graduates want to end our childhood adventures together as former graduating classes did. We have navigated the hardships as a class for the past 12 years, and feel it is only right to end our time off together at 1 ceremony.

During the covid pandemic, the school decided to have multiple graduation ceremonies to honour the graduates. It was the only option at the time due to the public health restrictions. The grads at Gimli had no clue if they would even have a ceremony at all, as the month before, restrictions were looming in the province.

Our graduating class consists of only 55 students, making our friendships extremely intertwined. Splitting us apart, puts the graduates in a difficult spot, as they must choose which friend group they want to graduate with. This creates a catalyst of anxiety at a time that is supposed to be a celebration, not a disappointment.

With the lifting of the public health restrictions, we strongly believe that our graduating class, as well as future classes, should be able to graduate together like they have been for decades. We have separated and segregated into different cohorts for the majority of our high school career, and as a class, we don't want to miss this final opportunity to celebrate one another.

The staff has provided insignificant reasoning on why they are choosing to have two separate ceremonies. Other schools in our area (and division) are returning to a one-group, "pre-pandemic" style graduation ceremony. The students at Gimli High School are requesting the same, however, the staff have refused to listen.

We hope that our community will listen to a cause that is so significant to the current, and future graduating classes at Gimli. We strongly urge all parents, guardians, future graduates, and community members to join this petition in the hopes of convincing our school staff to reverse their decision.

Thank you for your time and support for a cause that weighs so heavily on our hearts.