OLDS – Horizon School celebrated one of its largest graduation classes in at least the last few years, principal Coralie Mobley says.
Five students graduated during a June 13 ceremony at the school; four in the early afternoon and one at noon.
Graduating were Liam Cramp, Devin Fournier, Nathanial Haskell, Tyson Clifford Creed Lagrelle and David Sydorenko.
“This, five, is a lot. Next year we're slated to have one,” Mobley said during an interview with the Albertan.
The gym was full as Mobley welcomed the grads and paid tribute to their supportive families, friends, relatives and school staff.
“The fact that you're here today is a testament to all of the work, not only by you, the grads, but also the work by your family, friends and school staff who have gathered with you today,” she said.
“Graduation is the beginning of a new chapter. It won't be the same as the path you have followed until now. It might not be better, it might not be worse, but it is different.
“Life will not go easy, but it will be what you make of it. You are in charge of how you view the world and how you react to what other people do.”
Mobley encouraged the grads to be like Sherman the cat who wanders into the school every once in a while.
“I would like you to be like Sherman. We will be happy to see you when you drop by. Don't consider this a goodbye; consider it an invitation to visit us,” she said.
“Remember, you can't change what other people do, but you can control your reaction to them, and I hope that's something that you have learned within these walls.
“Always meet with kindness and grace, stay humble and be grateful for all that you have,” she added.
Mobley told the Albertan that the grads overcame a lot in order to graduate.
“They've all come from another school in Chinook’s Edge (School Division), where there was a struggle, some kind of struggle, that made this environment the best place for them.
“And whatever those struggles were, we were able to address them so that they could successfully finish high school,” she said.
As for the future, Fournier is slated to attend the transitional employment program at Olds College in the fall.
“The other guys don't necessarily have post-secondary plans, but they're all working towards something,” Mobley said.
Mobley said seeing the five graduate was an “amazing” feeling.
“It's kind of why we're all here,” she said. “Every school that they've attended, and every teacher, school staff, EA (educational assistant) that they've had, it's all been working to this end.”
In her speech, Mayor Judy Dahl also thanked all those – including family – who had helped the students graduate.
Addressing the grads, Dahl said, “I believe you are a gift, a child of the universe, and I ask that you continue to teach us love and patience.”
Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) trustee Kathy Kemmere congratulated the grads on their accomplishment.
“Today is a very special day. It's a day to celebrate you as graduates. Each of you have worked so hard to get to this point in your life, and we are so proud of your accomplishments,” Kemmere said.
“Success isn't just about grades and awards,” she added. “It's about trying your best, always learning new skills and growing every day, and you have shown courage and determination in this journey, and that's what true success looks like.
“We again offer gratitude to all of those who supported you, including myself, and we wish you the best always as you take the lessons you've learned from the friendships, that you've learned the skills that continue to propel you forward to never stop learning.”
CESD associate superintendent of student services Marcie Perdue also spoke.
"This is actually the first time I've been to Horizon grad where I know all of the families," Perdue said.
She paid tribute to each of the students and their families for all of the effort they went through to get to graduation day.
Perdue said Haskell was the only student that she followed all the way from pre-Kindergarten to graduation.
"He taught me something that's really important, which is every decision we made around Nathanial was what is best for Nathanial," she said.
