Only last month Year 12 students at all Bathurst high schools were facing the prospect of not being able to celebrate 13 years of schooling.
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But late last week, those frowns were turned upside down when the NSW Government allowed Year 12 graduation formals to go ahead after previously banning them.
MacKillop College principal Steve Muller said he's excited that his Year 12 students will get the send-off they deserve.
"Many of them have already gone out in preparation and bought their dresses to enjoy what should be a wonderful celebration of 13 years of school," he said.
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"We're really excited for them and we'll certainly do what we can to adhere to whatever restrictions that are in place.
"We'll make sure they get the send-off they deserve."
MacKillop will hold their graduation formal at Goldfields later this year.
"We've kept our booking at Goldfields that we've had in previous years," Mr Muller said.
"We're still intending to go ahead with that. It just depends on what numbers we're allowed.
"Our booking has been maintained, with this hope in mind that if the community works together that these things would come to fruition and that looks like the case."
Mr Muller believes his Year 12 students will enjoy their formals even more, considering they were facing the prospect of not having one.
"It's been a challenging year. They've missed out on a lot of things," he said.
"Thankfully they've been very optimistic and we've maintained that optimism with them.
"It's going to be better in many ways. It's something they thought was going to be taken away and now it's been brought back, so I think they'll be overjoyed."
Schools across NSW will receive the COVID-19 safety plan guidance for Year 12 graduations and school formals by the end of the week.
And while formals and graduations will go ahead, dancing and group singing will not be allowed.
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