In a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges, Coonabarabran High School’s Class of 2020 has performed with grace under pressure.

After completing their Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams earlier this month, students were able to finally enjoy their rescheduled COVID-safe graduation formal with family and staff at the Coonabarabran Town Hall on Thursday, 12 November.

“In any year, graduating from High School is a significant achievement,” Coonabarabran High School principal, Mary Doolan said.

“The attainment of the HSC places a full stop on a school story that students commenced writing 13 years previously.

“And 2020 has been a year like none other - uniquely challenging.”

This year’s HSC class faced significant disruption to their learning, with recommendations that students study from home for a portion of semester one, excursions being cancelled, trial HSC examination dates moved, and assessment schedules changed.

Ms Doolan said there was a cloud of uncertainty hanging over what should have been a year of known ritual, tradition and celebration.

“And no doubt, the demands of being a HSC student amplified some of these tensions,” she said.

“Yet, despite the uncertainly, frustration and at times fear, our Year 12 class stayed the course and showed grit and concern for each other and we are immensely proud of them.”

Ms Doolan said the dedication of staff and the broader community had underpinned the Year 12 students’ resilience.

“As well as supporting academic outcomes - all staff have worked to preserve as many traditional Year 12 events as possible, notwithstanding COVID, for our graduating class.

“The transformation of the Town Hall for the formal being characteristic of our school’s determination to support our Year 12 students and make their final year of secondary schooling special.

“We are so fortunate, too, to have a savvy P&C Association - Year 12 could do little fund-raising to support their formal, but our hard-working P&C secured a grant which offset some of the cost!”

HSC results will be released on 18 December.