Kalianna School Bendigo VCAL students graduate virtually amid coronavirus requirements

Sixteen Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning students filmed the graduation ceremony at the Emporium Creative Hub on Friday.

The school's VCAL coordinator Joshua Mould said the video would be collated and shared on the Kalianna Facebook page on November 26.

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Mr Mould said it was nice the students could receive some recognition, even if it was in different circumstances without family or friends.

"We had the All Seasons booked out but because of the restrictions, we couldn't do it," he said. "So we had to come up with an alternative.

"So the film crew downstairs, we got friendly with them and they said they could shoot it in their studio. It just went from there and it's been good."

Graduate Tiliquer Priest said it was also great that the students had photos organised at Rosalind Park after the ceremony.

"It's really good that we're able to have family photos," she said.

"That means the family is somewhat involved still, which I'm really glad about because I know it was a bit heartbreaking for my family when it first was not allowed."

Fellow graduate Caleb Jeanes said the students appreciated how they could celebrate for the next two weeks before their classes officially finished.

"With most graduations, it only pans out for the one day but we technically get it panned out for longer which is something that probably won't ever happen," he said. "So we're a bit unique in that aspect."

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Mr Mould said the students should be very proud of themselves after a year of on-and-off again remote learning.

"It's been a challenge but it's something that they took to really well," he said. "Our attendance actually went up during remote learning.

"It's been so successful that we actually offer one day a week now where they can continue to do remote learning. We're going to continue it next year as well."

Miss Priest said the year wasn't as bad as she expected given the COVID-19 restrictions.

"I found it quite challenging in the changes and just in general with certain aspects," she said. "But I did get through it quite well not too long after lockdown was slowly easing.

"The social part was a bit hard as well but luckily I had my family being really supportive with what was going on."

Mr Jeanes said their experience could help shape the way schools taught in the future.

"What the remote learning has done is shown schools across the entire world that there are more flexible and adaptable ways of learning than just onsite learning," he said.

"It's added another factor of learning that I think schools will use for generations and generations to come."

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