Brauer College year 12 students no longer have the "heartache" of having to choose which one of their parents will attend their graduation after the college pushed it back to maximise guest numbers.
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Typically, graduations are held in mid-November after final exams, but some schools have delayed celebrations until next month.
Last year's graduation ceremonies were student-only events, live-streamed to parents and families due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Recent government roadmap changes, once the state reached vaccination targets and eased COVID- 19 restrictions, mean this year's cohort can celebrate.
It's a huge relief for Brauer College year 12 co-ordinator Paul McFadden who told The Standard in October, it looked as though students would only be able to have one guest due to capacity and density limits.
"We're only allowed to have 150 and with our cohort that means all our kids can only bring one parent and that's causing so much heartache," he said then.
The event, previously scheduled for November 15, was moved to December 1 with its 66 graduates and their parents able to enjoy a three-course sit-down dinner at Deakin University.
Mr McFadden said there were a number of event back-up locations, including the school oval, in the gym and in one wing of the school with students in different classrooms.
"There were so many plans because we just didn't know what was going to happen this time last month," Mr McFadden said. "We were always going to go with the option that allowed the most parents to be able to come."
He said the last big event the year level celebrated was its debutante ball, held one day prior to Victoria entering its first COVID-19 lockdown.
He said the year 12s had missed all of the rites of passage of their final two years including camps and excursions - "all things that we usually take for granted".
"Now, finally, they get to do something with all of them together in front of the people that mean the most to them," he said. "It means everything to them."
Mercy Regional College's (MRC) sit-down graduation dinner at the Noorat Community Centre, was moved from November 19 to December 9, once the roadmap was announced.
Principal Sharon Gillett said the increased density limits allowed families to attend and would permit dancing at the event.
Its 55 graduating students can invite two parents, or four if they're part of a blended family, which is the same as previous years. "We are most grateful to be able to celebrate and mark our student's graduation from MRC as well as recognise achievements and acknowledge the contribution and partnership with families," Ms Gillett said.
Warrnambool College held its evening ceremony on Wednesday, November 17. Some family members were able to attend, while others watched via livestream.
Principal David Clift said the event was a chance to "celebrate all that our year 12 students have achieved this year and over the course of their 13 years of education".
Emmanuel College held its afternoon ceremony on Thursday, November 18 with the 165 graduating students able to invite two fully-vaccinated guests each. It was held at the Emmanuel Centre and live streamed.
Principal Peter Morgan said it was normally an evening event for students and four guests, and followed by food and refreshments, which wasn't possible this year.
He said the original communication to families was that it was likely to be graduates-only, but once restrictions changed it allowed each student to bring two guests.
"Although the event was pared back we know that our student were happy to be able to be together and to graduate together," Mr Morgan said.
Kings College held a year 12 dinner at school on November 12 for students and teachers. Principal Allister Rouse said its awards and graduation assembly on Thursday was a staff and student-only event which was filmed.
The final 2021 VCE exam was held on Wednesday, November 17 and results will be released on December 16.
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