2020 Graduation

Dear Seniors:

Congratulations!  Although nothing is official until we receive all final marks from teachers and your last few credits are granted at the end of June, at that time you can legitimately be a graduate J.  I know you were a potential graduate and on the way at the beginning of semester 2 to become a 2020 Dryden High School grad!  I hope you continued to adhere to your academic expectations despite the immediate intrusiveness of COVID-19 and its strict demands for your safety and security.  For students who were not passing before March Break, and who could not gain enough achievement to reach a passing grade during distance learning, no problem – we can help you.  Through our DHS summer learning program, we can get you on track to still graduate.  Just contact the DHS guidance department, Ms Mackie or Ms Nesbit, to get enrolled.  The Ontario Ministry of Education has delayed sending all schools their Ontario Secondary School Diplomas, including SHSM Red Seal diplomas, until sometime this fall.  Once we verify your final grades, your credits are earned, and we receive your diploma from the government, we will mail out your diploma along with all your other graduation certificates and awards.

Graduating from high school remains an important milestone in your lives, and the faculty and staff at Dryden High School commend you for your resilience at this historical time and continuation to work towards your success. It has been 37 years since I graduated from Dryden High School. Yes, I am the first year celebrated on our Alumni hallway when we had Grade 13! Now YOU! will soon join the names of past alumni; some may be your parents, other family members or friends with their pictures and names on the wall representing a tradition that you will belong to shortly. You made DHS what it is today.  DHS has a diversity of students; each of our Seniors provided the guidance as our school made changes to not only help you on your journey but also help future students and graduates, on theirs. Where ever the next steps and your path take you, DHS will always be here, to help you, if ever you are in need. 

If you haven’t already sent a recent picture to jennifer.randell@kpdsb.ca for us to publicly acknowledge you, please do so ASAP.  Besides the Facebook graduation recognition, in anticipation of you graduating, we are putting together a graduation tribute video, we hope this will be completed and out on the regularly scheduled graduation day, Friday, June 26.  Please keep watching Facebook and Instagram for more end of year and graduation information.

Once again, all the best, take care, remain healthy and stay safe.

Richard Hodgkinson
Principal – Dryden High School