Good morning A.Y. Jackson Graduates, Parents, and Guardians,
I am writing to share plans for our year end recognition of our 2021 graduates. Below you will find details of our plans to celebrate our graduates and invite you to come to school to share in the success of our students.
Throughout these activities, please follow the current Ontario Social Distancing Guidelines at all times. We will have a large supply of masks, PPE, and sanitizer available at several locations on the property throughout the week.
Graduate Portraits with Edge Imaging. June 15. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Many A.Y. students had graduate portraits booked and completed earlier this year. This was previously announced in our Friday June 11 email to all students and parents. Only graduates will be allowed to attend these sessions individually. The session will be located in the school gymnasium. Please enter via the school via Entry H at the south (portable) end of the school.
Diploma Presentation Photos with the Administration. June 15. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
After students have their graduate portrait taken, we have again made arrangements for a candid photo and diploma presentation with the student and our school principal. Students will complete this immediately following their portrait sitting in the cafeteria.
Friends and/or Family Selfie Photos. June 21-25. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
We will have a large banner hanging at the front of the school throughout the week of June 21 to 25th. Students can gather as per COVID guidelines in physically distanced groups for fun candid photos. Families are also welcome to take advantage of this opportunity. We will not have a school camera set up so please bring your camera or phone. No appointment is necessary but we suggest you plan this to coincide with your personal moment of celebration (see below).
Your Personal Moment of Celebration with Family and Friends. *Booking Required* June 21 OR June 24 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For each students' personalized graduation moment, each student will have their photo taken with their family here at A.Y. Jackson. Each graduate may invite up to 2 family members to join them for this photo opportunity. We will be setting up a special staging area. Each Personal Moment of Celebration must be booked through this link: https://www.schoolinterviews.ca/code?code=a7k7v We can accommodate up to 5 graduates and 10 guests in each 15 minute session. This will allow you to coordinate your celebration among a group of 5 grads and 10 of their family members, so you may want to coordinate the timing with other graduates who are close friends, relatives, or neighbors so that you can share the moment with those closest to you! Please bring your own camera.
Photos will occur in the gymnasium. Please enter the school parking lot and park at the south end of the lot near the softball field. Please wait in your vehicle until 2-3 minutes before your appointment time. Please enter the school through the stairwell H which will be well marked as the entry.
The class of 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Livestream on YouTube. Thursday June 24th. 7:00 p.m.
Our team has been working over the past several weeks to develop and produce a Virtual Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony will include speakers, a presentation of the graduates, musical performances, and, of course, a valedictory address! A link will be emailed to students and parents on the afternoon of June 24th. The link will also be accessible via our website at https://ayjacksonss.ocdsb.ca/
Picking up Grad SWAG and your Ontario Diplomas, Ontario Scholar Certificates, Silver Medals and other Awards. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. June 24, 25, 28, 29 and July 9-12.
We will be printing and packaging Ontario Diplomas, Ontario Scholar Certificates, Transcripts, Subject Awards, and Silver Medals for individual pickup at the front of the school. No appointment is necessary. If weather is inclement distribution will occur inside the front foyer. No appointment is necessary. Please follow Social Distancing rules.
Dropping of school materials, equipment, Chromebooks, or textbooks. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. June 24, 25, 28, 29 and July 9-12.
We ask that any graduating student who has school materials which may include a Chromebook, textbook, art materials, tools, manipulatives, sports equipment, etc please return it to the school as soon as possible. We will sort materials as they are received and ensure we record which student returned the materials. NOTE: Please label your materials with your name and teacher’s name before handing them in.
There is always room for one more!
Following guidelines and advice from OPH and the OCDSB, we have set up a great Virtual Celebration and opportunity for a personal moment of celebration for each graduate. We want to limit gatherings to no more than 5 Grads + 10 family members (total of 15) at one time. We also want to ensure we continue to be responsible as the vaccine roll-out continues. All of that being said, please use the guidelines we have set up to ensure you include all of the people you need to in your celebration. Some families may require more than two family members to attend. If we have more people than our 15 person guideline at any time we will use PPE and social distancing to continue to keep everyone safe. Please ensure you include every student and every family member you need to in your celebration. You have earned this moment!
In closing, on behalf of our staff, I would like to express our shared gratitude to all of our graduating students and to our parent community for your support throughout this year. Students have continually shown care, maturity, leadership, and cooperation. Congratulations on earning your diploma during very challenging circumstances! Your determination and perseverance are as impressive and important as your academic accomplishments! Congratulations Jays!
Thank you, Patrick McCarthy
Principal