Memories of their journey so far and promises for the future were celebrated at École Mother Teresa Catholic School, last Wednesday, during the Grade 9 farewell and dance.
Jeremiah Bojda, Jason Wall and Kalan Weaver welcomed students, teachers, parents and friends.
Memories of the past were presented by two students from each class - Kennedy Rolston and Sydney Scherger from 9B, Corry Grienke and Taylor Nixon from 9W, and Therese Hoven and Hanna Wilkins from 9Z.
Some remembered being together since Kindergarten, gaining a few new students and losing more than a few along the way. Others talked about the “crazy qualities” of their classmates.
Mikayla Cumming and Kyla Franco paid tribute to parents noting there’s no stronger bond between parents and their children.
In her theme and farewell, Elora Rider talked about the feeling of awakening, not just academically. “Everyone seemed to blend into one large group, all had a balance that created fun, fun, fun.”
Noting this accomplishment “is a small milestone in our lives,” said encouraged fellow students to “always know where you came from, you’re always welcomed back.”
She concluded with the words of Mother Teresa. “We ourselves feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
A slide show followed. It was created by Matthew Ventura and Dakota Masson with Mme. Boyd.
Each of the students was presented with a gift, a tradition which teachers put a lot of thought into each year.
They were presented with a tile stamped with different virtues, a pen and pencil for survival in high school and a sucker or candy to signify always remember their childhood.
Students who were given gifts included:
9B - Shaina Dockrill, Tyne-Marie Ganje, Mateusz Kogut, Tatum Lavallee, Autumn Murphy, Breanna Nagy, Lexus Piper, Kennedy Rolston, Jonah Salsbury, Sydney Scherger and Kalan Weaver.
9W – Jeremiah Bojda, Carter Boothe, Dwight Carey, Kyle Chiasson, Kage Chittenden, Helena Cooper, Joel Fitch, Kyla Granco, Maddison Gajardo, Donna Giroux, Corry Grienke, Levi Kisslinger, Shane Koch, Sydney Lambert, Daytona Lantz, Dakota Masson, Joshua McKenzie, Taylor Nixon, Justin Norell, Elliot Noyle, Elora Rider, Carter Ruzycki, Matthew Ventura and Billi-Jean Windsor.
9Z - Cash Beamish, Dylan Carey, Mikayla Cumming, Jacob Gringhuis, Tricia Hlushak, Therese Hoven, Jordan Mannix, Greyden Manweiller, Enzo Noya Gonzalez, Amber Lee Rach, Dawson Ross, Brendan Vavrek, Jason Wall and Hanna Wilkins.