Arctic Dispatches: A Night To Remember

Sunrise 8:21, Sunset 16:17, -7C

Last Thursday night, our school celebrated graduation. Schools in Nunavut hold graduation in the fall because they need to wait for results from the English exam students write in June. Graduation is always a huge event in Clyde River, but this year's was really special. This was the largest graduating class in the history of the school (12 grads). The impediments to graduation are huge for these kids, so making it all the way is cause for a big celebration. I coordinated the graduation again this year and really enjoyed the process. Here are some pictures of the highlights.

Students prepare to go out into the audience and deliver roses to those who helped them reach graduation. This is a really beautiful and emotional ceremony. I ordered 120 roses from a florist in Iqaluit and was very nervous until I received them safe and sound. It has been quite cold and I was worried that they would get frozen or that the plane wouldn't be able to land.

My student from last year, Kevin, received a special award for volunteerism. Beside him is the Northern Store manager who is telling the audience how the first person you see around town in the morning is Kevin, who voluntarily shovels the school, store and elders' steps. She gave him a gift certificate and, of course, a plastic shovel.

This is Pia, another of my students from last year. She is lighting her candle from a seal oil lamp that has been lit by an elder. This is symbolic of elders passing on knowledge to youth. You can see how the small kids gather around and pay such close attention to this.

This is (almost) the whole group. Pia wasn't available for this photo.

Valedictorians Allanah and Tracy deliver the message from the graduating class in Innuktitut and English.

Parents escort grads up to the stage while the theme song plays. This year's grads chose One Step At a Time by Jordan Saprks. There was very loud cheering and applause as each grad passed through the archway.