VCI Graduation was an all-day Wednesday celebration for graduates, families, friends and teaching staff. It began at 9:15 a.m. for individual presentations and culminated with an about town excursion as graduates rode on decorated flat deck floats through Virden streets.
It seemed there was extra excitement in the air as student accomplishments were celebrated in a season overshadowed by COVID-19 restrictions.
Students were out of the school setting as COVID-19 isolation began in mid-March and schools were ordered to close.
Students’ marks and standings were frozen in time by mid-March, although schooling continued with both teachers and students engaged in the education process.
Superintendent Barry Pitz said that it would be possible for students to raise their grades if they worked hard via distance education.
Out of that somewhat stressful scenario graduation was a high moment this year.
On June 24 the town cruise of the 72 grads started at 6 p.m. from VCI, followed Seventh Ave. past Victoria Park, turned and crossed the tracks to drive by apartments and seniors’ residences across town. They finished up an hour-and-a-half later back on Seventh Ave. in downtown Virden where each graduate walked the red carpet in front of a huge sign – 2020 with stars.
