THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 • B1
GRAD 2018
Good evening graduates, friends and family members. On behalf of the Board of School Trustees, SD58, I want to congratulate the graduating class of 2018 on reaching this milestone in your lives. Mr. McNiven mentioned that we have 107 graduates at MSS this year. That works out to 94 per cent — our highest completion rate ever and well above the provincial average so well done class of 2018. I wanted to start tonight by acknowledging Trustees who are her with me tonight. Trustees Brian Jepsen and Gerry Ellingsen. Thank you for all you do for public education. And a special thank you to our student trustee Tyler Thomson who is also a member of the graduating class of 2018. Your voice at the Board table will be missed. Tyler is one of about 12 students Trustees in the province. Four of those 12 are from SD 58. There is a very ancient story that exists across many cultures about two people. The first built their house upon the sand, as their foundation, and when the rains and storms come everything is washed away. The second person builds their house upon the rock, as their foundation, and their home survives the rains and storms. The rock has been seen as a metaphor for community, spirituality and family. The rain and storms are the challenges that life has and will continue to put before you both within our valley and beyond. Some of you have already experienced this through flood and fire and personal loss. For the past 13 years or two thirds of your life, the staff of this school district, have been building your educational foundation, your rock, to make the world a better place, one student at a time. The district has not been alone in this endeavour. The community, including many of those in the audience tonight, have helped you along in this journey as coaches, service club members, spiritual and community youth leaders, to name a few.
And let’s not forget your parents or extended family. You are here tonight because they all wanted to make a difference and in doing so contributed to your success. The foundation we have given you has been broader than math or science, social studies or fine arts; deeper than industrial or language arts. It has been about building citizens of character and integrity, about dealing with loss, celebrating achievement, working together and adapting to change. Tonight, we pass the torch to you a new generation, to blaze your own trail be it to further your education, take time off to travel or enter directly into the work force or maybe its just a few years off to discover what you want to do. What we do know is you will experience and achieve things that we have not yet imagined in our wildest dreams. I also want you to cut your parents some slack tonight. Having had three young adults graduate from MSS I can tell you from experience that tonight is bittersweet, and some are not quite ready to let you go and start the next chapter, even if you are. To quote Dr. Seuss: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself Any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where you go… I wish you well as you continue life’s journey and ask that you be safe this weekend as you celebrate this major milestone in your life. Thank you. Gordon Swan Vice-Chairman of the Board of School Trustees
INTRODUCING TH E
GRADS OF
2018 on a Job Well Done!
To the Grads of 2018, Congratulations on your well-deserved success! From Merritt City Council and Staff
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