The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) will follow suit from its public counterpart when it comes to end-of-year events.
The board announced via Facebook Wednesday night that it will handle graduations like it did in 2020, with a combination of virtual and outdoor events.
"After careful consideration, and in the interest of the health and safety of our staff, students and their families, we have decided this year’s graduation ceremonies will be held much in the same way as last year’s, with a mix of both outdoor and virtual elements," read the board's statement. "Based on consultations with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, the outdoor portion of these ceremonies will allow for the student, parents and siblings to visit the school and meet teachers and administrators during their scheduled time, while adhering to public safety measures."
The Catholic board said just as last year, each school's traditional graduation events will be held virtually, with graduates being given a chance to view the ceremony, and come back to the school for photos and to receive their diplomas.
"Our staff understand and appreciate how much this means to our students and their families. They know how challenging the last year has been," read the statement. "They know how much our students have endured and they intend to do everything they can to make sure that our students are appropriately recognized. This means as much to them as it does to our students."
Under Step One of Ontario's Roadmap to Reopening, Premier Doug Ford said outdoor graduations could take place as long as strict social-distancing was in place. Nevertheless, the board chose to go on the side of caution, and if a ceremony were to be planned, it would need to be done right.
"We understand that given Premier Ford’s announcement, some may be disappointed with this decision. We would simply say to those people that we can not, in good conscience, allow large gatherings of people where we cannot meet all recommended public health guidelines, especially considering all of the logistics involved with organizing such a large scale event," read the announcement.
The WECDSB's decision comes soon after the Greater Essex County District School Board announced this week that it will not hold in-person graduations again this year.
