Virtual school grads celebrated at in-person ceremony

Putnam Virtual School had its commencement ceremony Monday evening, where officials praised graduates for their motivation in taking an alternative path to get their high school diploma. 

Seven of the online institution’s nine graduates were at the Putnam County School District headquarters in Palatka to celebrate together in person. 

Putnam Virtual School Principal Mary Wood congratulated the departing seniors for their big accomplishment, noting how difficult it can be for some people to take a “non-traditional pathway” like virtual school. 

“It works for some,” she said about learning virtually. “And these stars, it worked for them clearly. It takes incredible dedication and self-motivation to complete your coursework online. I don’t know if any of you adults have ever taken an online class, but it is hard to stay on task and focused.”

Virtual learning is a vital asset for students who might not thrive as well at a traditional school, Wood said, and she wants it to stick around for students who want options in how they attend high school.

Superintendent Rick Surrency said he has taught college-level courses online and can attest to how difficult virtual learning can be. But different options work for different people, he said, which is why he wants students to have the option to attend Putnam Virtual School. 

“The thing I’ve really liked is we provide choices for all of our students,” Surrency said. “And this is a choice that really fits your schedule and really has worked for you. And I think it’s amazing that you’ve been able to come this far and I really admire that you’ve done it.”

The superintendent encouraged graduates to see their commencement as a beginning rather than simply the end of high school. He referenced the book “Atomic Habits,” in which author James Clear promotes the One Percent Rule, which theorizes a person can get 37 times better at something after a year if he or she works to improve at the task by 1% per day that year. 

Graduate Matthew Elkins wants to get better at boxing, which is part of the reason he attended Putnam Virtual School. He said his goal is to be a professional boxer but he also wants to attend a vocational school to learn a trade. 

Virtual learning allowed him to train when he would have had to attend classes at traditional school, he said. Elkins also noted problems focusing at traditional schools as a reason for pursuing the virtual route. 

“It feels great,” he said about graduating. “It feels like a fresh start.”

As graduates enter post-secondary life, they should use their skills to make the world a better place, said Bonnie Putnam, the school’s facilitator. Not only should the graduates work to improve the world, she said, they should use the positives in the world as motivation to contribute. 

She quoted the Harry Potter series character Albus Dumbledore, who said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

With a positive outlook, great work ethic and integrity, she said, the graduates can accomplish anything. 

“These simple things will allow you to thrive and succeed in this world,” Putnam said. “Please look for the positives in the world and make them your priority. There are simply too many positives for us to focus on all the negatives.”