The return to an in-person ceremony provided many memorable moments for the graduating class of 2022 at Chemainus Secondary School Friday night.
“Wow, this is amazing,” said Chemainus Secondary School principal Lori Hryniuk. “What a crowd. It’s been three years.”
While the classes of 2020 and 2021 weren’t as fortunate to have a packed gym for their ceremonies due to COVID restrictions, the 2022 grads were grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the occasion in front of family and friends and to commemorate their final days at the school in style.
Coast Salish elder John George was on hand to inspire the grads with a Victory Song and words of wisdom in traditional language and English.
“Now you have all these wonderful memories when they went to elementary school,” he said. “They did the great job there. They went to the middle school and did a great job there. Now, you see them, they went to the high school and they did a great job of graduating.
“You did a great job with each and every teacher you saw.”
“You guys are all victorious,” said Hryniuk after George’s Victory Song.
Cowichan Valley School District trustee Randy Doman added some thoughts for the grads to contemplate in comparison to classes of yesteryear.
“You are brighter and more amazing than we ever were,” he said. “We look forward to you solving some of the problems we’ve created over the years. It’s on you now.”
Sheryl Koers, the assistant superintendent of the Cowichan Valley School District, gave the grads a life recipe to follow.
“Whatever path you choose, we only ask that you strive for success and happiness and be true to yourselves,” she said.
The grads were officially introduced by teacher sponsor Nancy Henry, who spoke about each one’s future plans as they walked in front of their peers to receive their certificates from Hryniuk and vice principal Rhonda LaForge. There are 45 graduates in the 2022 class.
“You have endured an unprecedented two years,” Hryniuk told them.
They’ve been through the switch from classroom learning to on-line and back again, mask-on mandates and masks back off again – the whole gamut of change.
“I’m so grateful to gather with all of you – all of you in the audience and the grad class,” said Hryniuk. “It’s been three years without you.”
She knows this group particularly well, since the current grads were Grade 8s entering the school in 2017 at the same time Hryniuk took over as principal.
Related story: First principal job for Hryniuk
“You were scared of the big kids, but now you’re the big kids,” she noted.
“You all have the skills and the knowledge to take on the next challenges,” Hryniuk added. “This is a world that needs each and every one of you. You know adversity, you’ve lived through the greatest adversity in your lives and certainly in mine. You have the strength to make the world a better place.
“The future – our future, your future – is bright. We hope the memories you’ve made here at Chemainus Secondary School will stay with you forever.”
All the grads were cheered loudly by an enthusiastic crowd that was ready to let loose after COVID. The award for the most boisterous cheering section, though, clearly went to the Dawson Bell entourage.
A grad video was presented, with much of the work to compile it done by Hailey Parkes, before Hryniuk’s closing remarks.
@chemainusnews
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
