2020 July 1, 2020
to all 2020 Graduates in Kingsville, Leamington and Wheatley! Whether you are closing the chapter on your high school years, getting ready to enter grade 9 or making the leap from kindergarten into grade 1, from all of us at Southpoint Publishing we would like to commend you for your adaptability and strength during these unprecedented times. This year has tested you mentally and emotionally. Though it may not seem like it now, these indescribable times will help shape you and will follow you for years to come. Southpoint Sun took to the virtual streets to see what our graduates have been up to and how they have been adjusting. These were their responses‌
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10 – July 1, 2020
Malia Dilana Daniel Afonso École élémentaire catholique Saint-Michel
Alexa Diniro
Leamington District Secondary School
Plans for the Fall:
Cardinal Carter Secondary School (French immersion) Honour Roll, Music Award, Life! Congratulations from:
Vô-Vô, Shaela and Mama are so very proud of you!!
Heidi Janzen
Leamington District Secondary School
Adrian Gualtieri
Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School
Plans for the Fall:
Plans for the Fall:
Has been accepted to the University of Guelph
St Clair College - Child and Youth Care Program
Congratulations from:
Congratulations Adrian!!!
Mom, Dad, Kaitlyn, Nicholas & Rory
With lots of love, your family
Andrew Marchand
Charlie Liebrock
Gore Hill Public School
Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School Plans for the Fall:
Will be attending LDSS
Plans for the Fall:
Medical Laboratory Science - St. Clair College
Congratulations from:
Congratulations from:
Dad, Mom and Zack
Mom, Derrick, Dylan, Eric, Christy, Scott and Mackenzie
Siena Pacheco
Ansh Patel
Mom, Don & Connor
Alexia Pacheco École St. Michel
Congratulations from:
École secondaire catholique l’Essor
Plans for the Fall:
Grade 9 at Cardinal Carter So Proud of You! Reach for the Stars, Alexia!
Love Mommy, Daddy and Siena!
Noah Simpson Leamington District Secondary School
Logan Williams Gore Hill Public School
Congratulations from:
Mom and Dad
The Next Chapter Awaits… and we hope it holds adventure, opportunity and great experiences for you! We wish you much success and a very bright future.
@kemutual
Congratulations from:
The Booster Juice Patel family
Honouring Today’s
Graduates
You’ve come a long way, and we’re very proud of your achievements. Keep up the great work, and we know you’ll go far. Best wishes today and always!
Rick Nicholls, MPP
CHATHAM-KENT-LEAMINGTON
1 Iroquois Road Leamington
www.kemutual.com
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Plans for the Fall:
Love Mommy, Daddy and Alexia!
PLUMBING • HEATING • HVAC SERVICES
Find us on
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A Continue training as S Second Lieutenant Aerospace Engineering Officer
Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! So proud of you, Siena!
Congratulations:
Graduates!
A S P A
Plans for the Fall:
Plans for the Fall:
Best Wishes,
Royal Military College of Canada
Siena will be attending Carleton University in Ottawa to study a Bachelor of Global and International Studies Honours and a Minor in Music
St. Clair College to attend the Music Theatre Performance Program
Love Mom, Dad, Meaghan, Nana Simpson and Grandma Cheff
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519-326-6054
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CHATHAM OFFICE 111 Heritage Road Suite 100 519-351-0510 LEAMINGTON OFFICE 115 Erie Street North Unit B 519-326-3367 rick.nichollsco@pc.ola.org
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Courtney Reid POST-SECONDARY GRADUATE Age: 26 School: St. Clair College Program Name: Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant What are your plans after graduation? I hope to get a job working on a rehab unit in a hospital or in forensic psychology. What courses did you find most interesting? The courses I found most interesting were Occupational Skills, Lifestage Health, and Psychiatric Disorders. These courses are quite different classes but are all very thought provoking. What are you most looking forward to this summer? I’m most looking forward to getting together with friends (COVID has made that hard), some sunshine, and a few rounds of golf!
Hunter Chambers KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE Age: 5 School: East Mersea Public School Who has been teaching you while you’ve been home? Mom and Daddy have been teaching me. They are good teachers What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Seeing my friends again What’s your favourite summer activity? Going to the beach, fishing, playing and playing baseball and soccer.
July 1, 2020 – 11
Heidi Janzen
Evan Finley Wright
Kaylie Crawford
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE
POST-SECONDARY GRADUATE
Age: 17 School: Leamington District Secondary School What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? All of the chemistry assignments that I did, they were easy for me and I enjoy chemistry. What are you most looking forward to this summer? Not having to worry about submitting any more assignments for school, being able to sit outside and enjoy the sun. How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? Mainly through text and over the phone.
Age: 5 and most quarters (will be 6 on June 29) School Graduating from: Kindergarten school (Wheatley Area Public School) Who has been teaching you while you’ve been home? Are they a good teacher? Ms. Lyman has been teaching me on the computer. She makes centres and I love centres and teams. What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Being in Grade 1 and being bigger than the JKs and SKs and there’s a bigger climber for us. What’s your favourite summer activity? Swimming in the pool underwater with my cousins and using my goggles and summersaults and floating on my back.
Kassidy Tiessen
Ashtin Garcia
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE
Age: 17 School: UMEI Christian High School How did you celebrate your graduation? I celebrated my graduation with a driveway graduation at the school where we got to say a final goodbye to our teachers and everyone who was a part of our education. We also did a virtual graduation ceremony. Personally, to celebrate, my friends and I had a socialdistancing-bonfire/grad party so we could all hang out and reminisce over the last four years together. Have you changed any of your plans for fall due to Covid-19? My plans for the fall haven’t changed due to COVID, it’ll just be a little different due to the virus. I will still be heading to St. Clair College in the fall for Veterinary Technician and will be living on campus, doing labs and things but in smaller amounts. What are your favourite summer activities you are looking forward to? I definitely did have more planned for the summer before COVID happened, things like concerts and things. But I think me and my friends are going to go to Grand Bend for a weekend camping trip to celebrate our accomplishments. I’m also hoping to eventually get to go back to my co-op and volunteering positions at Leamington vet clinic and Marcie’s Magnawave. I’m also just looking forward to spending the time left at home with friends before we all head off to conquer our futures in the fall.
Congratulations 2020 GRADS
Age: 25 School: University of Windsor What are your plans after graduation? I graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Resource Management. I work at Point Pelee National Park in the Resource Conservation Department. My position is a Resource Management Officer for the Wetland Conservation and Restoration Project. What courses did you find most interesting? The courses I found most interesting at the University of Windsor were: Environmental Impact Assessment, Conservation Biology and Pollution Ecology (Aquatic). What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am most looking forward to spending long weekends at my parents’ house on Pelee Island with my family, Marshall and our pups!
Age: 13 School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School
Matthew Mayhew ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATE
What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? My favourite assignment I was asked to complete during online school was a French project. We were supposed to find a cause that was important to us and translate and conjugate it properly in French. I chose to do mental health because multiple people I know struggle with depression and anxiety. I learned a lot through the project and learned how to help people who are struggling through mental health.
Age: 14 School: Kingsville Public School What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? To make a resume for my future jobs. What are you most looking forward to this summer? Having fun with friends.
What are you most looking forward to this summer? Usually I would be looking forward to soccer but, because of this pandemic, we aren’t sure if there is still soccer. However, I am looking forward on hanging out with my friends and family and going to Muskoka with my family. How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? Before we were allowed to be around 10 people, I would go on social distancing bike rides with my friends or we would all meet up at someone’s house and sit 6 feet away from each other and talk. Doing this made it so much better having face to face conversation instead of talking through a computer screen or phone.
How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? Texting, FaceTime, FortNite, and I’m allowed to play with 1 or 2 outside :)
Jaden Benjamin HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE School: Western Secondary School How has your graduation been different than expected this year? Graduating during COVID was very different. I was hoping this whole thing would’ve slowed down so I could have a normal graduation, but I was still super happy I could graduate. Not the way I expected to but still got out of high school. #Classof2020
Congratulations 2020 graduates on your hard work and accomplishments! Wishing each of you a bright future & hoping that all of your dreams come true.
STACEY DINIRO Broker
519.796.3891 Office: 519.997.2320 @girlinthe_know
CANADA IMMIGRATION SERVICES 33 Princess St. Unit 340 Leamington
Ellen de Witt, RCIC Immigration Consultant
519-969-6789 info@dewittimmigration.com
Visas & Extensions, Permanent Residence & Citizenship
12 – July 1, 2020
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Lucca Ribble PRESCHOOL GRADUATE
www.kingsville.ca/news Realty House Sun Parlour Inc. would like to congratulate the hard work of all of our local
2020 Graduates!
Age: 3 School: First Steps ChildCare Who’s been teaching you while you’re at home? Mommy What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? To play with my friends in the kitchen centre. What’s your favourite summer activity? Swimming!
Kaitlyn Pinch POST-SECONDARY GRADUATE Age: 26 School: Palmer College of Chiropractic - Florida Campus Program Name: Doctor of Chiropractic What are your plans after graduation? I am currently working at Derrick J. Beleutz Chiropractic right here in Leamington. I plan to continue to expand my knowledge in neurology, paediatrics and women’s health as it pertains to chiropractic to help better serve the community over the next several years.
All the best in your future endeavors!
55 Erie St. N., Leamington
519-322-2233
All the Best
to All of Our Graduates
What courses did you find most interesting? I found any Care course interesting. These were the handson courses where you learn how to perform different chiropractic adjustments on different patient populations. What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am very excited to finally be working the job of my dreams. Outside of work, I look forward to spending time outdoors-specifically on the lake in my hometown of Wheatley. I missed the small-town vibes the last 8 years I’ve been in school, so it feels great to be back.
Alexa Diniro HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE Age: 17 School: Leamington District Secondary School How did you celebrate your graduation? I celebrated with my family and friends. Have you changed any of your plans for fall due to Covid-19? I would rather stay home and do online at Wayne State LOL (Alexa was accepted to both Wayne State University and the University of Guelph).
It’s your day, and we hope you enjoy every moment as you celebrate the culmination of your hard work. May your graduation be the beginning of a bright and beautiful future. We look forward to celebrating your continued success!
5,&&, (116 52//,(5 6(77(5,1*721 //3 BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS 60 Talbot Street West, Leamington •
25 Main St. W., Unit 5, Kingsville
519-326-3237 519-733-6573 • Corporate & Commercial Family Law General • Real Estate • Wills & Estates
What are you are looking forward to this summer? Fishing, tubing, cottage and tanning.
Congratulations Class of 2020!
Abbie Mikkelsen ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATE Age: 13 School: Jack Miner Public School
What was your favourite online assignment you were asked W to complete during Covid-19? y An egg drop science experiment where we had to drop an eggC from 8 feet high without it cracking. We had to design and M develop a vessel to hold and protect a raw egg with materials “A from around the house. We had to videotape ourselves W dropping it. s What are you most looking forward to this summer? B Hanging out with friends as regulations ease, swimming with H my friends and family and getting ready for Grade 9 at KDHS. y How have you been keeping in touch with your friends T during this time? fe FaceTime calls with friends and socially distant driveway o visits and bike rides with friends. It’s been hard, but hopefully will get easier as restrictions ease.
Elise Minaudo HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
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School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School
W y How has your graduation differed from your C expectations because of COVID-19? In almost every coming of age movie I watched growing up, I the characters were preparing for the two most important h nights of their lives-- prom and graduation. I could not wait to M experience these nights with my friends. However, due to the W Coronavirus, all around the globe, prom and graduation were s taken away from the class of 2020. This was a disheartening L feeling for everyone in my grade-- including myself. I feel as if if my high school career is incomplete. lo
One thing that has made this whole experience easier is H knowing that I am not the only person going through this. My y friends and even my own sister, who is graduating from grade C 8, have had experiences taken away from them. My sister o even missed her Muskoka trip which devastated her. I am very grateful for all the effort people around the community have put into making this year still special for the class of 2020. The drive-by graduation held by Cardinal Carter felt like the proper send off to University given the current situation. It was a fun way to receive your diploma, and the best part was seeing our friends cheer you on from 6 feet away (of course)! The celebration continued as a few of our parents surprised us with driveway receptions. We drove house to house and stopped at each and had snacks outside while keeping our social distance. It was great to be together again. Overall, although I did not have the traditional grade 12 experiences, I do feel like the community made the class of 2020 feel acknowledged and appreciated.
Chelsea Monger KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE Age: 5 School: Jack Miner Public School Who has been teaching you while you’ve been home? Mommy What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Seeing my friends, of course! What’s your favourite summer activity? Playing Frisbee and doing Hoola Hoops
We’re proud of you, graduates. Good luck and best wishes in all of your future endeavors!
There’s no stopping you now, graduates! Think big, work hard and enjoy your success.
Leamington
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1.877.511.2927
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July 1, 2020 – 13
Alexis Duhig
Mason Cabral
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATE
Charlie Liebrock
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE
Age: 14 School: Gosfield North Public School What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during COVID-19? My last math assignment, an online game “Are You The King or Queen of Math?” What are you most looking forward to this summer? Being able to see more friends. How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? Texting, FaceTiming, Snapchat and visiting a few friends in person, outdoors at a distance of 6 feet.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATE School: Gore Hill Public School What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? I did a big House project about buying a house and everything in it, it was a big one, Math assignments and History projects. What are you most looking forward to this summer? Looking forward to having fun in a pool and if I’m able to hang out with friends I’m really looking forward to seeing them.
Age: 13 School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School
How did you celebrate your graduation? I just finished picking up my graduation package at the high school and got the chance to take a picture with my principal and parents while holding my diploma.
What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? My favourite online assignment was an “I Survived the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020”. I enjoyed this assignment because we needed to document how Covid-19 affected our day to day lives.
What was your favourite online assignment you were asked to complete during Covid-19? My writing project which we were given prompts. I chose to write about what I would do if I was a millionaire. It was my favourite because it allowed me to draw. I love to draw.
What are you most looking forward to this summer? This summer, I am looking forward to my first online high school course and many days lounging by the pool.
What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am looking forward to hanging around my pool with my family and close friends and enjoy some relaxation.
How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? As far as communication, I am constantly texting and calling my friends, asking how they have been and what they are up to. I miss the face to face conversations that we used to have every day.
How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? I keep in touch through texting and hanging around my close friends in my safe circle.
Have you changed any of your plans for fall due to Covid-19? I was originally planning on going to Ridgetown College for Horticulture but now that everything has switched to online, I’m not sure what the plan is yet. I’m still considering all my options.
Zach Mann HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE Age: 18 School: Kingsville District High School Plans for the fall: Going to University of Windsor for Co-op Engineering How did you celebrate your graduation? I celebrated graduation at home with family watching my virtual graduation while eating pizza.
How was your graduation different than expected this year? My graduation was definitely not what I had expected. COVID-19 has really turned our grade eight year upside-down. Unfortunately, because of Coronavirus, we were unable to go on our last elementary school field trip and, of course, needed special arrangements made for our graduation. I want to thank my teachers and the parent volunteers that helped plan graduation day and for making my grade eight graduation a very memorable experience. I would also like to congratulate my fellow graduates for making it through elementary school. I hope I will be able to see all of you in the fall. This will definitely be a year to remember-- for everyone.
Bradley Ribble KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE Age: 5 School: Mount Carmel Blytheswood Who’s been teaching you while you’re at home? Dad What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Seeing my friend Ellie What’s your favourite summer activity? Slip n Slide
What are you are looking forward to this summer? My favourite activities this summer are golfing with friends every day and playing travel baseball if there is a season.
Avery Grace Anderson KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE Age:6 School: Wheatley Area Public School
Beckett Ribble
Who has been teaching you while you’ve been home? Are they a good teacher? I don’t know...I think Ms. Sallmen on the computer. Yes they are.
KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE
What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? To see my friends. What’s your favourite summer activity? Playing tag and swimming.
Age: 14 Graduating from: Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School
Have you changed any of your plans for fall due to Covid-19? My plans for the fall have changed since I will not be attending any classes in person-virtual learning only.
How have you been keeping in touch with your friends during this time? Calling on the phone, Facetime and texting on Instagram and doorstep visits.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE
Age: 18 School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary School
What are you are looking forward to this summer? This summer I am looking forward to having a good time with my friends and family, get some money in the bank account and prepare for my future.
Logan Williams
Bricelyn Koehler
Age: 5 School: Kingsville Public School Who has been teaching you while you’ve been home? Mommy What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Friends What’s your favourite summer activity? Swimming and riding my bike.
Congratulations, Class of 2020. Your resilience during these
tough times is admirable and we are proud of all your hard work! Mayor Hilda MacDonald and Leamington Council
As you enter the next phase of your life, we have the financial products, services and advice to help you achieve your goals. WFCU Credit Union would like to recognize and congratulate all 2020 graduates.
Congratulations today and best wishes for all your tomorrows!
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Paetyn Antunes
Daesa Minaudo
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE
MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE
School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School
School: Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School
How has your graduation differed from your expectations because of COVID-19? Graduation, to me, has always meant the end of one thing and the beginning of another. When I went to my brother’s graduation, and then another one after it, I pictured mine to be exactly like theirs. I thought it was boring, and when my time came, I would dread it as much as they did. Never would I have thought that the thing that I found boring and tiring would be the same thing I would be missing.
How has your graduation differed from your expectations because of COVID-19? As a grade 8 graduate of 2020, I can honestly say that I experienced graduation like no other group of graduates. Last year we got to see all the graduation traditions CCCMS has for their graduates and it built a sense of excitement in us. COVID-19 put a stop to the idea that we were going to follow those same traditions. Although I felt a sense of disappointment that I would not have a ‘typical” graduation, the staff and parent committee of CCCMS made our graduation a memorable one. We had a three-part graduation and each part was more special than the other.
It didn’t occur to me that I would be longing for something as simple as having my name called and being given a diploma and yet I find that I would give almost anything for that day. When I first found out about our drive-by graduation, I was disappointed. There was nothing special, we were still being robbed of the real experience and nothing could make up for it. Now that I’m sitting here, writing this, I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on a true graduation experience. The effort the community and school has put into making our graduation as spectacular as they could was amazing. I couldn’t be happier with the way we have come together as a class and community. It was unbelievable and I felt an overwhelming amount of affection from everyone. The drive-by graduation itself was beautiful, the setup and package we received was extremely heart-warming and although this experience wasn’t exactly normal, it couldn’t have been any better. It was one of the best days of my life as I celebrated with my family and close friends. In a way, because of Covid-19, I had the best graduation possible. It was unique and well thought out. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Experience Results
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The virtual section was made up of award videos, memory slideshows and an online mass video. I was this year’s valedictorian. A virtual valedictorian is a more challenging position than usual. When you deliver a speech online, you need to have most of it memorized and it has to be well edited. There is no room for mistakes. Our parents organized an outside, social distance viewing of these videos. It was fun. The last part, the promenade, was the most exciting part. Our school was beautifully decorated, and all the teachers came to cheer us on and wish us well. As we walked along a red carpet, we received gift bags and got photo ops with our families and even a social distance picture with our teachers. It was really nice and made us all feel special. I felt bad for the staff because they had so many rules and regulations to follow and, regardless of the trouble, they continued with all their plans just for us. It’s true, my graduation was like no other, but it was definitely memorable. CCCMS made the first, and hopefully the last COVID-19 graduation a memorable and beautiful experience.
Congratulations Class of 2020! Always remember, there is no limit to what you can achieve!
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Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places. You’re off and away.
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14 – July 1, 2020
by Dr. Seuss