Graduations 2014

Another academic year has ended and another set of students are taking the big move from elementary to secondary school or have finished their time at the HWDSB. As the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board’s graduation rates are up, there are more students graduating with a diploma than ever before. In the last weeks of school I attended five farewells from grade 8 for students going on to secondary school, celebrations at Glenwood school, Grace Haven and for the Pathways in Education Students, and two graduations from Sir John A Macdonald and Westdale.

As in previous years, students have made the grade for whom it has been a struggle, and graduation is a relief for their parents!  Some students have come through by overcoming considerable difficulties. Some students have had spectacular marks and success. All are to be congratulated!

The grade 8 students dressed in a wide range of clothing from boys in suits and ties to shirts and shorts, and girls in ballroom dresses with high heels to cotton dresses and sandals. Many schools have their special touches but all went out of their way to celebrate each student. Hess Street always shows a picture of each student as a baby and then as a graduating student from grade 8. Some of these baby pictures showed settings outside Canada and some students had no baby pictures as in moving from war- torn countries perhaps baby pictures had been displaced.  Most schools showed pictures of all students and events throughout the year often accompanied by the music “The time of your Life”.  Parents contributed refreshments.  All the schools had arranged something special for their grade 8 students afterwards. One school was going on the Harbour Tour Boat and students would dance on board. Another was going to a dinner, and others had arranged dances.

This year Glenwood had 9 students who are 21 years leaving from this school for special students, which is a large number for them. This was an emotional time. Many of the students had been at the school many years, and teachers, educational assistants and nurses were saying goodbye to students who they had seen every day for years, and celebrated significant steps forward with their families. So many were tearful in describing their students to the audience. For the families this is the end of free universal programs for their high-needs children, with a dearth of community programs for them outside the school system. Some students were going to be at home after leaving school. In the decorated gym each of these students was celebrated for their strengths at the graduation, and given a book of photographs of themselves to remember their activities and friends at the school.

The Salvation Army program for young mothers at Gracehaven has three teachers provided by the HWDSB. There were four students who graduated with their High School diploma: a considerable achievement for students who had also been adjusting to motherhood and young children. The impressive ceremony featured comments about every student in the program, special gifts to each student, and some bursaries given by a former teacher to encourage further secondary education. In fact all the young women graduates planned to go on to college or take an apprenticeship. A former student talked about her appreciation for the support she had received at Gracehaven, including help to get housing, at a time when she was coping with motherhood at 15 as well as the death of her mother. She is now in second year of college.

Pathways for Education is a province-wide mentoring program for teens designed to encourage graduation from high school.  In Hamilton it is available to all teens throughout their high school years who live north of Barton Street, and 75% of the teens who live there have taken advantage of the program. It is run out of the North End Community Health Centre. This was the second or third year with graduating students, and each student was recognised in a ceremony with parents in attendance. There were 27 students who were graduating from Sir John A Macdonald, and 4 who were graduating from Westdale.

The High School Graduations are big events that go on for at least two hours

Westdale had 350 graduating students which necessitated the graduation ceremony being held in the Hamilton Convention centre as the Westdale auditorium was not large enough. A parent wrote me to describe with appreciation the experience her daughter in French Immersion had had at the school: she had been part of the chamber orchestra, the senior orchestra, the concert band, had played on hockey and soccer teams, and  taken part in school plays and the French Speaking Contest. At both Westdale and Sir John A  Macdonald schools the wide range of activities and programs that students had the opportunity of experiencing was evident in the range of awards provided. Sir John A Macdonald had 16 First Nations and Metis students graduating, the largest ever from the school’s Aboriginal Program. Several International students from China also graduated. The SJAM principal indicated that there were many students graduating for whom it was touch and go as to whether they would meet the requirements.

Many community members attended to support students who had been successful. Elders from First Nations and Metis were there to celebrate and honour their students. Agencies such as Pathways for Education and OASIS were represented too.   I bumped into an employer there to celebrate her graduating co-op student.

Graduations are also a time when appreciation is given to staff who are retiring. This year the Principals of Ryerson, Dave Repchuck, and Westdale, Virginia McCullough, were retiring after long service to students. Both will be missed.

Seeing students at significant transition points is always a moving experience. Congratulations to all staff, parents and students whose determination, vision and commitment make the successes of graduation such celebrations. Many thanks to community partners who are also so important to student success.