CALEB NICKERSON

CAMPBELL’S BAY June 12, 2020

Early Friday afternoon, the quiet town of Campbell’s Bay was filled with blaring sirens, flashing lights and cries from the local populace. Thankfully it wasn’t an emergency, just the . . .

celebration of the graduates from St. John’s Elementary School.

Led by a police SUV and a fire truck, the procession wound its way out of the school’s bus lane and down rue Leslie. Friends and neighbours were encouraged to cheer on the grads and their decorated vehicles from the side of the road. The Pontiac High School (PHS) panther mascot as well as Principal Debra Stephens were also in the mix, as a welcome to the new crop of students.

St. John’s Principal Lorianne Bertrand said that she worked with sixth grade home room teacher Erin Kelly to come up with a celebration that would comply with public health guidelines.

“In a normal year we have graduations in the gym, where we invite families in, but this year we couldn’t do that so that’s why we tried something new,” she said.

Bertrand added that the young grads got the chance to pose for pictures with their family before the parade took off at a photo station set up outside the school

She was pleased with the community turnout and said that all 15 of the graduating students had a lawn sign

“We actually have students from Otter Lake and Calumet, so one morning I dropped them off along the road,” she said.

A parade celebrating the graduates of PHS is set to take place in Shawville this coming Friday evening.