Hello London friends,

You may have heard that the LDCSB has decided to celebrate the 2020 grade 12 graduation virtually in the fall.  This petition supports waiting until the fall to make the decision on how the student's graduation be celebrated.  The heath crisis due to COVID-19 has created an unprecedented time way greater then we could ever imagine. The scientist's are learning new facts every single day and with their discoveries and our safe practices the safety rules and regulations dictated by the government and our local health authorities are changing weekly.  With that said, wouldn't it be better FOR our graduating students to decide on how their ceremony  is safest in the fall?  This is the reason for this petition.  We do NOT want to do anything that is deemed unsafe, especially when it comes to our children.  We ALWAYS want to do 100% what our London Heath Officials instruct us to do now and always because that is for the safety of everyone.  Making the decision in the fall instead of now allows more time for the health crisis to dictate our safest actions accurately at THAT given time  - graduation ceremony held virtually vs graduation ceremony held safely in-person.    

I have a daughter in the 2020 graduating class at STA plus I was fortunate enough to attend my own grade 12 graduation.  I understand why grade 12 graduation is so impactful. This is just one of those that you never forget. It celebrates your academic accomplishments, gives you healthy closure and sets you off to the next chapter in your life.  In talking recently with some grade 12's affected by COVID-19, I am hearing what is important to them, and that is, to go up on a stage (or something) and receive their diplomas in person and NOT virtually - to celebrate in person their high school academic achievements.  I am also hearing that it is important to them to be with their graduating class in person.  If safe to do so, THEY DESERVE IT.  They have experienced a great deal of loss.  Just to name a few, the entire last semester of high school, their prom, their year end sports, their banquets, their fun grade 12 days, experiencing their last day of high school and knowing it,  heartfelt thank yous and good byes to their teachers and staff, a farewell to all the kids that they have been so close to during their years of high school, seeing all the classmates that they are not connected to through social media but yet REALLY want to see at graduation "because I may never get to see them again! ), closure to their high school chapter, share all their good lucks to all who are moving on - may include those attending post-secondary education... I am sure there are more...

 CTV NEWS Published Monday, May 11, 2020 11:27am by Katherine DeClerq. Ontario's Minister of education Stephen Lecce is asking school boards not to cancel graduation and proms but rather host them in the summer or fall when it is "safe to do so".  He also stated, "I firmly believe Ontario students deserve this positive conclusion to their academic journey, even it ceremonies are delayed".  

If come Fall our Government and our London Public Health Officials instruct us and  the LDCSB that it is not safe to have a Graduation Ceremony in-person we have faith that these young adults are more than capable and SMART therefore will be ACCEPTING of that decision.  We have given them these tools... 

In closing, and my final point, if the decision is made in the FALL or later instead of now at least our London Grads of 2020 will be able to look back positively and say, we did everything that we could do to celebrate our High School Graduation the way we wanted it in-person and if virtually is the BEST way than they will also be able to say we did what was SAFEST for us, our families and everyone!  

For this we pray. 

Sincerely,

Shelley Pautler