May 6, 2014: It’s that time of year when Peace Wapiti Public School Division’s (PWSD’s) motto, Educating today for success tomorrow, rings truer than ever. This coming weekend will see the start of a succession of graduation ceremonies throughout the Division.
First up is PWSD’s Grande Prairie-based high school, Peace Wapiti Academy, with a commencement ceremony for 122 graduates scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Evergreen Park’s ENTREC Centre. The event will feature retired teacher and Titans football coach, Mr. Derewianko, as guest speaker. Students will return later that evening for a Grand March beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The following Friday, May 16, Spirit River Regional Academy’s 30 graduates will gather at 12:30 p.m. to participate in a cap and gown ceremony at the Spirit River Arena, followed by a banquet at 5:00 p.m. and Grand March later that evening.
Beaverlodge Regional High School will bid a fond farewell to 115 graduates on Friday, May 23 at the Beaverlodge Arena. On the same day, Sexsmith Secondary School will send off 73 graduates during a ceremony at Sexsmith Arena.
Ridgevalley School will host an intimate event for nine graduates on Saturday, May 24.
With graduation ceremonies just around the corner, Superintendent Sheldon Rowe advises student to reflect upon the journey that brought them to this moment.
“While graduations are typically celebrations of student achievements, they are also a time for students to acknowledge the support and encouragement they have received from their parents and our staff who have played a big part in getting them to this point in their lives. I am always proud of the students we graduate within our communities, but I am also proud of the parents we are fortunate to serve and the staff I am blessed to work with,” says Superintendent Rowe.
Peace Academy of Virtual Education (PAVE), the Division’s online school, will host a ceremony for five graduates, followed by a barbeque lunch in Dunvegan on Thursday, June 19. Serving students from Grades 4 through 12, PAVE provides a unique approach to online learning which includes interaction between students, parents and PWSD teachers.
Eaglesham School will host a Grand March event for six graduates on June 27.
Savanna School, the last of the Division’s eight high schools to host a commencement event, takes a unique approach to its graduation ceremony. The school is proud of its “true” graduation tradition, and holds off on their celebration until diploma marks have been released by Alberta Education, ensuring that all students at the ceremony have actually met the requirements for graduation. The small school will say farewell to two graduates near the end of summer on Saturday, August 9.
The following is a summary of the details of the 2014 PWSD graduation ceremonies:
School |
Date |
Event Details |
# of Graduates |
Peace Wapiti Academy |
Saturday, May 10 |
Commencement Ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
Grand March at 7:30 p.m.
Evergreen Park’s ENTREC Centre, Grande Prairie |
122 |
Spirit River Regional Academy |
Friday, May 16 |
Cap and Gown Ceremony at 12:30 p.m.
Banquet at 5:00 p.m.
Grand March at 7:00 p.m.
Spirit River Arena |
30 |
Beaverlodge Regional High School |
Friday, May 23 |
Cap and Gown Ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
Grand March at 4:30 p.m.
Beaverlodge Arena |
115 |
Sexsmith Secondary School |
Friday, May 23 |
Ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
Grand March at 7:00 p.m.
Sexsmith Arena |
73 |
Ridgevalley School |
Saturday, May 24 |
Ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
Ridgevalley School gymnasium |
9 |
Peace Academy of Virtual Education (PAVE) |
Thursday, June 19 |
Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. followed by a barbeque at noon, Dunvegan |
5 |
Eaglesham School |
Friday, June 27 |
Grand March at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eaglesham School gymnasium |
6 |
Savanna School |
Saturday, August 9 |
Savanna School gymnasium |
2 |
Total number of graduates for 2014 |
362 |
In additional to the high school graduation events, seven schools will host farewell events for junior high students:
School/Event |
Date |
Event Details |
Elmworth School Grade 9 Graduation and Junior High Awards Night |
Thursday, June 5 |
Dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by Grade 9 graduation ceremony and Junior High awards at 7:30 pm. in the school gymnasium. |
Helen E. Taylor School Grade 9 Farewell |
Friday, June 13 |
Class photo at 6:30 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and dance at 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. with Prairie Mobile Music, Wembley Recreation Centre. |
Penson School Grade 9 Farewell |
Thursday, June 19 |
A barbeque at 6:00 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 7:00 p.m., Penson School gymnasium. |
Clairmont Community School Grade 8 Farewell |
Friday, June 20 |
Meal with friends and family of the Grade 8 class at 6:00 p.m., followed by a ceremony to celebrate student successes and their transition to Peace Wapiti Academy, Clairmont Community School gymnasium. |
Hythe Regional School Grade 9 Farewell |
Friday, June 20 & Monday, June 23 |
Friday, June 20: Grand March at 7:00 pm., dance at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 23: Awards Evening at 6:30 p.m.
Both events will take place in the school gymnasium. |
Woking School Grade 8 Farewell |
Wednesday, June 25 |
Grade 8 farewell and year-end awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium. |
Bonanza School Grade 8 Farewell |
Friday, June 27 |
Bonanza School will bid farewell to five Grade 8 students during their year-end ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium. |
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A printable PDF of the above schedules is attached.
