The year 6 cohort at Orange Public School finished primary education on Wednesday by running through a guard of honour formed by students in younger years.
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Tradition dictated that an arch be formed with arms and hands, but this was not possible due to COVID.
Soon after it began the farewell was washed out as torrential rain dropped 30mm in a matter of minutes.
There were screams of delight as students scattered but some hardy souls remained to deal with the final bell ringing. All in all, a bit of a messy end to a bit of a messy year.
Year 6 at OPS had its formal on Tuesday night with trivia, dancing and a meal.
Principal Brad Tom said the challenges of 2020, with COVID forcing schools to adapt on the run all year, had proven that OPS students were "21st century learners with adaptability, and their flexibility throughout the year was a true reflection of that".
"2020 was unique on all fronts, we've had such change and at such speed," he said.
"The thing I'm really impressed with at Orange Public School is the way staff rallied together with such professionalism during the COVID crisis period to provide online education for the students."
Mr Tom said the school had to implement major changes to regular processes, particularly including extra curricular activities that had to be curtailed or reconfigured to suit health regulations.
There was also the hurdle in the early months of the pandemic of reassuring parents, carers and students that classrooms and playgrounds were safe.
"I think this would have to be considered the most challenging year for any educator, be they a teacher or a principal," Mr Tom said.
"There was very little opportunity for learning prior to the implementation of new processes and so we were learning as we were developing, trying to keep up with government advice."
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