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Another rite of passage for our Coast high school students was achieved this week as students from Elphinstone, Pender Harbour and Chatelech secondary schools and the Alternative School walked across stages to get their diplomas. Graduation is a major milestone and one that should be celebrated. It’s taken a lot of hard work from these students, a lot of study, exams, late night cram sessions, guidance from parents, friends and teachers to get to this point. Each and every one of the graduating class of 2014 should be proud of their efforts. But there was a cloud of discontent hanging over graduation ceremonies this year. With the provincial government locked with the teachers in a bitter labour dispute and teachers out on picket lines, they were not able to be a part of any of the excitement. Yes, they could attend in the audience, but they could not help with set-up or offer last-minute advice or words of encouragement. It is so unfortunate. As the old saying goes: “It takes a village to raise a child,” and that is exactly what has taken place here on the Coast. This village — this community — stepped up big time to ensure that no graduation ceremony was cancelled and every Grade 12 high school student who had earned the chance to walk up onto that stage could do so. It started with the parent grad committees, who have all worked countless hours throughout the year fundraising and planning. Many of those parents were recognized at this week’s ceremonies, and their efforts certainly are not lost on the students. Then there are the administrators from all our high schools and elementary schools, who pitched in, helped MC the ceremonies, helped set up the lighting, the sound and the stage to make sure the ceremonies went off without a hitch. And let’s not forget the hundreds of service groups, sports organizations and businesses, many of whom had representatives at the ceremonies handing out large sums of money in the form of scholarships and bursaries. These folks find ways every single year to give back and recognize our students with thousands of dollars. It’s an amazing thing and certainly appreciated by the students — many of whom were more than delighted to receive an envelope with their diploma. And just because the teachers were not involved, they were not forgotten. At Monday’s Alternative School graduation, a special toast was made to recognize teachers, and at Monday’s Elphinstone grad, valedictorian Joshua Diamond commended and thanked teachers on many occasions, saying none of the grad class could have come this far without them. As in years past, Coast Reporter is honoured to present our salute to grads, published July 11 with photos and recognition of all our students. We offer our congratulations to the class of 2014. The world is yours — get out there and do us all proud. |
