Here’s to the graduates

Times Contributor

 

The SHS graduating class of 2012 hit the podium this past Saturday, May 26.

The day’s events began at the high school with the opening ceremonies where 204 graduates walked the stage in their blue robes. Other events throughout the day included the volunteer organized banquet, the grand march and evening ceremonies, and in addition, the night’s safe grad.

“We had a phenomenal committee pulling together, it was a lot of hard work from a lot of different people that really made it the success that it was,” said Deb Betterton, parent volunteer and organizer of the banquet.

The extensive planning and preparation for the optional banquet proved to be successful with 549 guests in attendance, numbers significantly higher than the 422 of last year. Betterton estimates about 80 graduates attended the banquet, whereas the majority of students celebrated elsewhere. There is still room for improvement in the consequent years, and perhaps more graduates will choose to celebrate together, which is the wish of many parent volunteers. 

Betterton saw no challenge in planning the banquet entirely by the hands of volunteers, but maintains the mindset that for banquets in the future, the more the merrier.

“The banquet committee would have loved the involvement of the school, and going forward, hopes that it could maybe happen next year, because it was so great and, everyone had a great time,” she said.

In order for more school involvement to become a reality, Betterton thinks that the initiative and “change needs to come from the grads, not from one parent group.”

“All in all, it went by as a blur and without a hitch, it just seemed so perfect,” said Betterton and laughs, “it went by very fast, good thing I took a lot of pictures!” 

In regards to the night’s safe grad, which took place at Strathmore’s Family Centre, parent volunteer and organizer Michelle Walker felt that the students were satisfied and that the night was “well worth it.”

“Our concern was to get everyone home safely with as little incidents as possible, which we achieved. We had great volunteers and it’s really all about the volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without them,” said Walker. 

It is strongly emphasized that the day’s success would not have been achieved without the combined efforts of all the student, teacher and parent volunteers. Special thanks are given to: Michelle Driver, Myrna Johnson, Janet Barbeau, Tammy Arbuthnott, Kevin and Joy Muenchrath, Robin Jones, Tracy McGougan, Lynda Witty, Lynn Johnson, Jody Schneider, Audra Blakney, Dale Stephenson, Nicole Lemoine, Sandy McKenzie, Dianna Bruce, Tracey Rogers, Shirley Armstrong, and grad supervisors Connie Pedersen and Rob Pirie, and the arena staff.