By Marcus Uhe
Parents from Narre Warren South P-12 College were left heartbroken on Monday with the school’s decision to ban parents from attending their children’s grade six graduation ceremony.
Despite restrictions on large gatherings being lifted by the State Government and parents being double vaccinated, the school decided not to change their stance on the event or move the ceremony from the school’s indoor performing arts centre, to an outdoor facility to accommodate an audience.
In a letter provided to parents in late November, the school said the graduation ceremony was not immune from the difficulties presented by the pandemic.
“The biggest day of the year for our grade six students is fast approaching and like many things this year it will look a little different,” the letter said.
“Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions; the graduation ceremony is only able to occur with the grade six students and their teachers, however the ceremony will be live streamed through a link on our website.
“All students will receive a personalised USB with a copy of the ceremony so that parents can view this after the event.”
The school was contacted by Star News but offered no comment.
Shantel Hodgkinson and her mother Lyn joined fellow parents and families of graduating students to watch their children mark the end of their primary education journey via the online stream.
She was brought to tears as she said no one was there to clap for the graduating students, including her daughter, Shae.
“They don’t even have the rest of the primary school watching, they have no audience in any form and the fact that they’ve gone through their final year of primary school through Covid-19 and have made it this far, there should be some sort of recognition for that,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“They’ve had nothing for two years, not an excursion, not a camp, and they could have had something today.”
Lyn Hodgkinson said the shut-out was another blow after helping her daughter to navigate home-schooling.
“We understand that other events have been missed, but this didn’t have to be – it was a choice and they made the wrong one.”
Fellow parent Belinda Young hosted Hodgkinson and 13 others in her Narre Warren home as she watched her daughter Shayna address the online audience.
Shayna had the prestigious honour of being school captain this year and had to lead her students through the up-and-downs of another Covid interrupted year, while she and her family were still grieving the death of Shayna’s 18-year-old brother Connor, who died last year.
“Shayna had a lot of anxiety and it was difficult just to get her to school,” Ms Young said.
“It’s a big role she’s had through grade six and she has done most of her assemblies online.
“We said that if we can’t be there, Connor would be there with her.
“To not be there to support her is just so wrong.”
Ms Young made personalised graduation hats for the 100-plus students to wear as part of the ceremony.
When first informed of the decision to not allow parents to attend, the school initially told the community the decision was made by the Education Department. But after parents contacted the department for clarification, and were told that the decision was up to individual schools, Narre Warren South P-12 told parents it was instead a case of principal discretion, according to Hodgkinson.
Adding to the disappointment of the parents is the approval of the school’s Christmas concert for Monday 13 December, to be held outdoors and with families in attendance, which the parents claim is contradictory to the decision regarding graduation.
A spokesperson from the Victorian Department of Education said that the decision was out of their hands and that many schools are experiencing similar problems.
“Graduating school is an important milestone in a young person’s life and we’re pleased to see many schools being creative to ensure everyone can celebrate students’ achievements amid the pandemic,” the spokesperson said.
“Decisions on events and celebrations are a matter for individual schools, but must be in line with public health advice.”
