St. Michael's School 2014 Commencement ceremonies

St. Michael's School graduating class of 2014
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas

St. Michael's School held their commencement celebration for grade 12 graduates on Saturday, May 10 at the Pincher Creek Community Hall. The hall was decked out in the theme the students chose to represent them: 'Live Life in Colour'. The vivid theme was reflected in the backdrops, the walkway, and the lovely gowns the ladies were wearing.

Principal Don Kuchison

Principal Don Kuchison acted as the Master of Ceremonies, introducing each of the graduands as they walked up the aisle.

 After all the students were introduced and seated Ms. Emma Burnham led the crowd in a lovely rendition of  'O Canada'. Principal Kuchison delivered a touching and poignant commencement prayer adapted from Psalm 20.

Holy Spirit Superintendent Chris Smeaton

Holy Spirit School Division Superintendent Chris Smeaton talked about how the world has changed. He said that when he was the age of these graduates most photographs were still black and white. He appreciated the theme chosen by the students. "Life must be lived in colour," he concurred.  He advised the students to be bold, to be brave, to follow both their heads and their hearts. "Your most important moments in life will be lived in colour."

Sarah Wittkopf and Carlee Fitzpatrick

Ms. Sarah Wittkopf and Ms. Carlee Fitzpatrick delivered the class history, and Mr. Ross Giroux and Ms. Emilie Charette gave a very entertaining class prophecy. The slide show prepared by Ms. Shianne Neumann and Ms. Amelia Woodard was filled with moments of humour, strength, and dignity.

Ross Giroux and Emilie Charette

The moment when all the students went into the audience and gave a rose to their parents brought home the tender nature of the day for many of the families. There were some misty eyes as the students returned to the stage.

Valedictorian Amelia Woodard

After Principal Don Kuchison and Assistant Principal Tina Delinte presented the certificates. Ms. Amelia Woodard gave the Valedictory Address. "I am pretty sure most of you are going to regret giving me this power by the end of this speech," she said.  Woodard said her initial thought was to create a truly original speech.  "I quickly gave up.  I decided instead to devote my efforts to creating the most ordinary speech  possible, with as many cliches in a grad speech as possible." She then provided a tongue-in-cheek look at cliches that she had encountered from other graduation addresses. She distilled this into a list of the best and most popular, then challenged or commended these pearls of wisdom found elsewhere. She spoke of how one of the cliches at graduation is to 'Dream about the future'. "Today is to celebrate right now," was her statement of  achievement after 12 years of learning. Woodard also used pop-culture quotes from Harry Potter to leaven her speech, reminding parents that it was not that long ago that they read their young children stories, while reminding the young adults how far they have traveled along the path of learning since then.  It was truly an original speech.

Instead of a grand march to end the ceremonies the students had a flash mob dance to Katy Perry's song 'Roar'. After they finished their big number the graduates danced with their parents and then their escorts to conclude the formal part of the ceremonies.

St. Michael's 2014 Graduating Class

Emilie Charette

Hannah Evans

Carlee Fitzpatrick

Shinaha Gamache

Ross Giroux

Tyler Higginbotham

Arianna Korbett

Peyton LaRose

James Lowry

Eddie Many Guns

Bailey McDougall

Josie Naumczyk

Shianne Neumann

Sydney Ouellette-Wallin

Tamara Parkin

Sam Scott-Parkinson

Sonja Shirdel

Brandon Simon

Robbie Smith

Angela Svab

Celia Tienkamp

Mason Tienkamp

Jessica VanEe

Laura Welsch

Sarah Wittkopf

Jasmin Wollman

Amelia Woodard