The Class of 2018 from Westcliffe Composite School gathers for a group photo after the graduation exercises at the school on June 22. The graduates are (from left to right) Luke Medve, Triston Cisna, Brianna Ward (in front), Justin Wells, Tyson Elphinstone and Cory Loken.

Kenneth Brown
of The Crossroads

Six more graduates have left the halls of Westcliffe Composite School to find their place in the world.

The school held its 2018 graduation banquet and exercises on June 22 in Marengo. The banquet took place at the Marengo Community Hall and the exercises took place at the school.

The graduates were paraded into the school’s gymnasium to start the  exercises. Teacher Jennifer Loken served as chairperson for the grad exercises. Greetings were delivered by Natalie Sullivan of the School Community Council and Margaret Irwin of the Sun West School Division board.

Principal Karen Jeffries addressed the graduating class and she said the class started out as two students in Kindergarten, and it grew to six students by the end of Grade 12. Jeffries highlighted when each of the students joined the class.

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She noted that the Class of 2018 is a diverse group of individuals, and the graduates followed their own paths to be on stage. The principal said the graduates have been able to tailor their education to their interests and their interests are diverse.

“Tonight is a celebration of your accomplishments and your accomplishments are as diverse as each and every one of you,” Jeffries said, recognizing that the students have enjoyed their own brand of personalized blended learning. “You have all followed your own distinct path and pace to reach your graduation milestone.”

The principal played her own version of Simon Says to highlight the diversity of courses the students have taken, so she had the students stand up if they took a particular course.

Jeffries said the diversity of programming is a tribute to the staff at Westcliffe, and the school division’s Distance Learning Education Centre. She spoke about the perseverance each student has shown to reach the milestone and she shared her memories of each student.

“Through your hard work and dedication, you have arrived here tonight,” she said. “Let me say we at the school are all proud of you.”

The principal and Loken then made the graduation presentations before graduate Tyson Elphinstone introduced the guest speaker as chosen by the graduating class. Janice Bond, who is an educational assistant at Westcliffe, was the guest speaker.

Bond spoke about the creative process behind writing her speech. As graduation speakers often do, she shared several memories of the graduates. She said the six graduates on stage have really grown on her in the past two years.

The guest speaker gave the students a bit of advice such as the importance of keeping a positive attitude in life, and she congratulated the class on the decision to follow through with the milestone.

“It was your choice and yours alone to achieve this milestone of high school graduation tonight,” Bond said, adding the students had the decision even with people’s prodding, pleading and helping. “You had to make the choice to finish your work to achieve this goal.”

Graduate Brianna Ward, the lone female of the bunch, was chosen by the class to be valedictorian and she was the final speaker of the night. She thanked everyone for being on hand for the graduates’ special celebration.

She noted that graduation is a time to reflect on the past and look to the future as the graduates get together for one final send off before they move on to new adventures. Ward said the class is an amazing and unique group of students that has been able to learn and grow together.

The valedictorian recognized that for several years she was told it would only be her and fellow graduate Justin Wells on stage for the big day, but the class grew. She highlighted her memories of when and how the class grew over the years.

Ward said the school was a wonderful environment for students because they could walk through the halls and know everyone else by name. She spoke about the knowledge each graduate has gained, the different path each graduate will take, the struggles, the successes and more. She thanked everyone that helped the students along the way.

“The gift of friendship is something that cannot be taught,” she said, congratulating her classmates and leaving them with words of inspiration. “It’s something that is experienced. I have been so fortunate in experiencing this gift with some of the most amazing people in the world.”

[/emember_protected] Westcliffe