Wheatland Crossing graduates blaze their own trail

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: June 8 2018 Strathmore Times

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Twenty-three students graduated from Wheatland Crossing on June 1. This year’s graduation ceremony is the second in the school’s history, but the first one with the students having completed an entire academic year within the school. Adelle Ellis Photo

Twenty-three students graduated from Wheatland Crossing on June 1. This year’s graduation ceremony is the second in the school’s history, but the first one with the students having completed an entire academic year within the school.
Adelle Ellis Photo
On the most important day of their high school careers, 23 graduates from Wheatland Crossing school took it all in as they celebrated their academic accomplishments during their graduation ceremony on June 1.
The 2018 graduating class wasn’t the first class to graduate from Wheatland Crossing. However, they were the first class to have graduated after completing a full academic year in the new rural school.
“One of the advantages of Wheatland Crossing students is the one-on-one support they receive,” said Bevan Daverne, Golden Hills School Division (GHSD) superintendent.
“It is ranked one of the best among rural schools … we are very proud of this school.”
Along with family members, friends, peers and teachers at the ceremony were dignitaries from the surrounding communities, Wheatland County councillors, and the school’s first principal, Karen Smith, who attended as guest speaker.
Unique features of the personalized ceremony included a song written by Mr. Ed Yu that included using each graduate’s name along with a story or some gossip about them, as well as a story written by Ms. Amanda Ellis, which also included using each graduate’s name in a fairytale type story.
Speeches delivered followed a common theme of having dreams and goals, and that no matter what choice you take and no matter the outcome, it will never be a wrong one.
“I believe that no matter which path you choose, the choice is yours and every choice will result in a greater you. Graduating from high school is only a step along the path we will all take in life. What I hope we’ve all come to realize is if you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done,” said Reece Kenney, valedictorian. “Maybe we don’t go where the path may lead, maybe we instead go where there is no path and leave a trail. That trail could be your mark in life. As the class of 2018 let us leave a trail that others would be proud to follow.”