Livingstone School Graduation 2012

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice, with Kim Jorgenson

Livingstone School Graduating Class of 2012
C. Davis photo

The more you read, the more you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.  -  Dr. Seuss

Valedictorian
Shaylee Zeller
C. Davis photo

Graduands of Lundbreck's Livingstone School gathered at the Pincher Creek Community Hall on Friday, May 4 for their graduation ceremonies.  The hall was packed with family and well-wishers for the event.  The graduands chose "Dr. Seuss" for their theme, and Seuss related decorations and Cat-in-the-hat hats were in evidence all around the hall.


Mr. Mat Hennig and Ms. Tracey Preston-Hucik were the Masters of Ceremonies for the evening. They are also the Grade 12 Mentor teachers.  The event began with the introduction of the graduands.  After the graduating class was seated on the stage Graduand Jessie Ferguson led the crowd in a wonderful rendition of 'O Canada'.

Seuss themed decorations at the Livingstone Grad
C. Davis photo

Clara Yagos

Livingstone Range School Board trustee and former Livingstone student Clara Yagos spoke to the students, thanking them for the Dr. Seuss theme.  "You bring me back to when my little girl was small.  I think I read her every one of the books, so you made it easy for me to make a speech tonight." She also quoted from the works of Dr. Seuss the following passages:

• "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." 
• "Why fit in when you were born to stand out."
• "I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.  Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living."

"The usual ongoing messages to students are 'be serious', 'plan your future', 'study hard', 'get organized','work'," she continued.  "Yes, these concepts are important, but at Livingstone School you're also encouraged to do and go beyond, to allow yourself to dream, to envision, to imagine, to play."

Livingstone School Principal
Mrs. Terri Donald

Next Principal Mrs. Terri Donald addressed the students.  "You all look absolutely stunning," she said.  "It's kind of hard to take my eyes off of you.  You all look so serious. I think Ms. Yagos mentioned to you that you don't need to be serious, and that you can just have fun, and enjoy, and I think I'll tell you something different, because you're not there yet," she said, to gentle laughter from the crowd.  "It's an exciting time in your lives, a time to reflect on your successes, a time to recognize your strengths and talents, and a time to look forward to that new chapter."

"I hope you take this time and this opportunity to go to great places," Principal Donald continued.  "Livingstone School, your extended family for the past number of years, and the surrounding community in which you have lived have been caring and supportive and safe and familiar to you. This year in particular you've been pretty big fish in a pretty little pond.  Well, there's comfort in being in a small pond, but soon it is time to move on, and as I hear of all the places you're going... very neat adventures, I think you have great opportunities ahead of you."

"Nothing makes parents and teachers more proud than to see their children seize the opportunity to seek adventure, to go off to great places, to set lofty goals, and to work hard to achieve them."

"Please be smart and safe, and all the best to you.  You're an incredible, wonderful group of kids, and we'll all miss you."

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own.And you know what you know. You are the guy (or the girl) who'll decide where to go.” - Dr. Seuss  

A slideshow presentation followed, illustrating each student and their growth and changes from early childhood to early adulthood.

Amber MacKinnon photo

Dolores Blackburn of Blackburn Jewellers presented Valedictorian Shaylee Zeller with a watch, and then Shaylee gave her Valedictory speech.

Vice-Principal Mrs. Mary Krizan handled the Pin Presentation, a Lundbreck School tradition which Mrs. Krizan performs every year. Before receiving their pin the graduand must do whatever she tells them to in order to earn it.  Each thing is very personal and geared with love towards that individual.  It is based on something the Grad likes or doesn't like and is usually very funny.

Banjo man West Fullerton
Kim Jorgenson photo

The apparently accident-prone Josh Cadonic was sent safely on his way into the adult world by Mrs. Krizan, with some extra protective padding.  West Fullerton gave a duelling banjo demonstration.

Jennifer Erickson and
Ashleen Wiebe play patty cake
Kim Jorgenson photo

Ashleen Wiebe is going to be a baker, so she had to pick a friend to play patty-cake with, choosine Jennifer Erickson.  Ryan Mosby was supposed to sing Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' in a Darth Vader voice, but he refused to "abuse" the classic song, so he sang it normally.  His performance was very animated and amazing,  and it got the whole crowd and grad class doing the wave.

Ryan Mosby  at the mic  singing "Don't Stop Believing"
Amber MacKinnon photo

Scroll presentations by Mrs. Krizan and Mrs. Donald followed, and then it was time for the Social and Dance, during which proud and misty eyed parents danced with their young-adult progeny.

Livingstone School 2012 Graduands

Anthony Bramer, Josh Cadonic, Landen Collings, Jennifer Erickson, Jessie Ferguson, West Fullerton, Billie-Jo LeMan, Emma Lowry, Brooklin Malyk, Jesse McKenna, Ryan Mosby, Philip Mullen, Shaelyn Nelson, Lane Paidel, Matt Phillips, Carline Pisony, J.T. Reeve, Matthew Sekella, Payton Vander Linden, Ashleen Wiebe, Shaylee Zeller

To view a slideshow of photos from the graduation click here

If you have photos you would like to see added to the slideshow send them to pinchercreekvoice@gmail.com, with as much information about the photo as possible (subject, photographer, etc.)