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Lawn signs across Welland offer congratulations to Notre Dame College School grads
by Kris Dubé The Welland Tribune - June 2, 2020
Graduate Mateus Vieira-McGuire, front, along with staff members Amanda Lamb, Lukas Cvancara is one of the 240 Notre Dame College School graduates who had a congratulatory sign placed on Notre Dame College School graduate Gillian Jansen and her parents David and Monique Jansen.
Kathryn Atherton and Cesare Oliverio.
their yards Monday by staff from the Welland high school. 
Graduating high school is an accomplishment that should not go unrecognized.
That's why 50 Notre Dame College School staff broke into small groups Monday to deliver 240 signs to the homes of students who would have been accepting their diplomas at Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill on June 24 if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn't turned their world upside down.
The signs congratulate the class of 2020 and read: A Proud Irish Grad Lives Here.
A similar billboard on Niagara Street will also recognize graduates in the coming days, said principal Ken Griepsma.
Students would also be attending a breakfast, mass and prom around the same time as the planned ceremony that was nixed several weeks ago.
"A lot of the milestones they would have experienced toward the end of their Grade 12 year couldn't happen because of the situation," said Griepsma on Tuesday.
The Welland high school couldn't sit still and not do something to acknowledge their achievements, the principal said.
"These kids haven't really been recognized because we can't get in person," said Griepsma, adding that prom and a formal graduation ceremony are being planned for October.
Gowns and caps were delivered as well on the daylong effort to connect with students so they can pose for photos in them with family, said Griepsma.
The COVID-19 pandemic means the school had to get creative when coming up with how to appreciate the students who are entering the work and post-secondary worlds.
"We're just looking for ways to celebrate our grads and make them feel special," he said, noting that most of the signs were delivered in Welland other than a couple he personally delivered to Port Colborne.
Mikayla Guarasci said it was "awesome" when teachers from her school pulled into her driveway, playing the Notre Dame "Victory March" fight song.
"It just made us feel like we were back at school for a minute, and part of that Notre Dame family," she said.
But as her high school career closes, her life at Ryerson University in Ottawa is about to begin in September.
What that will involve remains uncertain and is causing a bit of stress, she said.
"We're not even sure if we're going to be moving in September, if it's going to be all online," she said referring to the sports media program she will be studying in.
"You can't really prepare for anything. You just have to go with the flow," she said.
Graeme Staples was delighted to see Mrs. Breton, his drama teacher for the last four years, and said the idea to congratulate students with the signs is "fantastic."
He will be heading to Niagara University on a swimming scholarship to study sports management.
What the fall will hold for him isn't stressing him out too much, he said.
"I'm just waiting one day at a time and seeing what's going on."
