b'30 2019-2020 | ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 | ANNUAL REPORT 31DAKOTA COLLEGIATEGLENLAWN COLLEGIATEThings were a hive of activity at Dakota CollegiateAt Glenlawn Collegiate, the school community also rose in the run-up to this years graduation celebrations.to the occasion to ensure this years graduating students Dean Favoni, a teacher and member of Dakotaexperienced an event they would remember. Principal Collegiates 2019-2020 graduation committee, said thisDionne Deer said there were 48 separate ceremonies years ceremonies were held in line with provincial healthOUR GOAL WAS TO featuring six students each, with a limited number ofOUR GRADS THIS YEAR regulations and physical distancing measures. It ranguests per student. Each of the ceremonies included across three days and featured nearly 280 graduates inHAVE THE GRADS LEAVE students receiving their diplomas and taking pictures withWILL HAVE PICTURES THAT groups of five with a limited number of guests each.their family and friends. In all, around 250 students were The grads marched in to O Canada and then there wasTHE CEREMONY KNOWINGset to graduate. From the start, our staff wanted to makeCAPTURE MEMORIES NO our treaty acknowledgments, a pre-recorded messageit special for our students, and have taken it on themselves from trustees, the principals message, and then the kidsTHAT THE SCHOOL DID ALLto do that," said Deer. Staff members came in and got theOTHER GRADUATING CLASS walked across the stage with their diplomas and anygrounds ready in time for the events, which are normally other awards, Favoni said, adding that a chance to takeIT COULD TO CELEBRATE more formal. This year, things were more informal, withWILL EVER HAVE.photographs followed, and that the ceremonies were alsoteachers acting as MCs throughout the events. Despite recorded and broadcast. Despite the unusualness of theTHEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTSthe lack of formality this year, Deer said there were many- DIONNE DEERsecond semester of school this year, Favoni said Dakotaphoto opportunities throughout the events and props Collegiates community came together to celebrateAND THEIR TIME AT from the musical and sporting departments were available this years graduation and the accomplishments of theto add to the fun while celebrating and embracing the class of 2020. The entire school came togethertheDAKOTA COLLEGIATE. achievements of this years graduating students. Deer said administration, teachers and educational assistants this year also presented the opportunity to encapsulate to do everything they could to make this a speciala period in history that will make this years graduates experience, said Favoni. I just want to emphasize it was- DEAN FAVONI unique. Our grads this year will have pictures that capture a full school effort to make the convocation ceremoniesmemories no other graduating class will ever have.as special and as authentic as possible. Our goal was to have the grads leave the ceremony knowing that the school did all it could to celebrate their accomplishments and their time at Dakota Collegiate.'