Graduation 2003
Thank you Mrs. Rankin.
Good evening members of the Richelieu Valley Graduating Class of 2003; Mr. Nardozza, faculty, staff, honoured guests, families and friends. Each year I struggle to find a theme for my speech to the graduating class; this year, for some reason, maybe you’ll be able to figure out why, the theme came easily; moving and packing!
Graduates, like in the poem by Dr. Seuss (Seuss, 1990) ‘Oh The Places You’ll Go’, congratulations, today is your day; you’re off to great places! You are taking your Richelieu Valley suitcase and gently saying goodbye and starting on an exciting new journey… you’re off and away! (Seuss, 1990).
But, for a few minutes tonight, just before you leave us, we want to make sure that you have packed everything you will need for your journey. What have you put into that suitcase, the one you have been filling while a student at Richelieu Valley?
Your years with us at RVR have been a time of becoming; of answering the question … who am I…?
This has been a time for developing the abilities, the qualities, the confidence and the desire to participate as unique and special people in the world… you are ready to “soar to high heights”! (Seuss, 1990)
So you are about to go but before you do, I want to tell everyone present here this evening the contribution the members of this class have mad to the tradition of excellence that we have here at Richelieu Valley and just before I describe your contribution graduates, let’s have a little history lesson about Richelieu Valley’s tradition of excellence; those who attended Wednesday’s Sports Awards Banquet will have to bear with me.
Ryan Beaton 2003 McGill University Athlete of the Year
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Amy Walsh Soccer scholarship to University of Nebraska
Captain of the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Tambra Dunn 1998 McGill University Athlete of the Year
Currently on the First Women’s All Canadian Track Team
Richelieu Valley Graduate
John Carle Canadian National Champion in Distance Running
Scholarship to St. Louis University
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Sarah Walsh Soccer scholarship to University of Virginia
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Kristy Hemsley Soccer scholarship to the University of New Hampshire
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Cindy Walsh Soccer scholarship to University of Hartford
Member of the Canadian National Women’s Soccer Team
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Sarah Browning Member of the McGill Track Team
Academic scholarship to St. Andrew’s University, Scotland
Richelieu Valley Graduate
Will the members of this graduating class succeed? To quote “Yes, you will indeed” (Seuss 1990) because as the poem goes on to say “you’ll move mountains” (Seuss 1990) well, it wasn’t a mountain that you moved but you did move your high school and even with that, twenty percent of this graduating class is on the Honour Roll; fifteen percent have been on the Honour Roll every single term throughout their high school years. Thirty one percent of this graduating class have successfully completed mother-tongue requirements in both English and French. The members of this class, the last Richelieu Valley graduating class, are athletes; honoured at our Sports Awards ceremony held Wednesday, June 4th, team coaches, video-artists; performers, public speakers extraordinaire, snow-boarders, skate boarders, committee members, editors, the members of this graduating class have a unique sense of style.
So what should you have packed for your journey after high school?
First, be sure to have packed your dreams and your sense of wonder. Pack your imagination, your creativity; your belief in yourself; your memories and best of all, your stories. Remember as you travel on your life’s journey, to move “with care and great tact and remember that life is a great balancing act”. (Seuss, 1990)
Tonight everyone here is remembering, sharing with you what is a most happy evening; an evening filled with the pride of accomplishment and you, graduates have reason to be very proud of what you have accomplished. At the same time, we’re remembering the last five years; and saying goodbye. I want to share with you, graduates, the pride that we your principals, teachers and staff have had in you. We stood, applauded and watched with respect as you led, with poise and grace, your school through the events of this year. We, the adults asked you to trust us and you did and have. Not once since our move in January has one of you come to the office to comment on that extra 30 minutes on the bus. ‘Yes” we did know it was 30 minutes coming to school and 30 minutes going home! Instead, you came to the Longueuil building and prepared a Richelieu Valley welcome!
Not once since January has one of you come to the office to say, along with you Physical Education teachers, that you would not ride that shuttle bus to another Physical Education class.
Instead, the young men and women on this stage ‘faced up to the problems’ ‘whatever they were’; met the challenge of the move of their high school during the holidays with good sense, and with the understanding that as the senior class they represented Richelieu Valley. So Graduates, be sure to pack you hope and your heart because with them you have told a powerful story.
With you every step along the way has been the staff of Richelieu Valley sharing their expertise, passion, and commitment and indeed touching the lives and hearts of you the students. The staff worked to instil hope for your dreams and support for your worthiness. I would ask the RVR staff to please stand and I am asking you the audience to join me in thanking the staff of Richelieu Valley Regional High School
At this time, on behalf of Richelieu Valley I would like to acknowledge the seven of us who will be moving on; retiring; and taking up new challenges,
Mrs. Cartwright, Mr. Savard, Ms. Hemmings, Mr. Ehrenreich,
Ms. Mackintosh, Mr. Nardozza and Mrs. Dunn
Please come on stage.
Thank you each and everyone for your dedication to Richelieu Valley and we wish you success in your new endeavours.
Evenings like this take a lot of planning and I want to thank the entire Richelieu Valley staff; in particular Mrs. Cartwright, Mrs. Hague, Mrs. Hemsley, Mr. Savard and our Regents.
I also want to thank Mrs. McKechnie, chair of the Richelieu Valley Governing Board and all of the members of the Governing Board. Your efforts on behalf of Richelieu Valley are deeply appreciated by the staff and students. Thank you to Riverside School Board, thank you also to our parents/families of our students. Your understanding and patience this year were nothing short of remarkable and we so appreciated the trust you gave to us. Without your support, it would not have been possible.
To my colleague Mr. Nardozza, after this year, words of gratitude do not seem to be enough. Thank you for your kindness; your resourcefulness and for your sense of humour.
And now members of the graduating class of 2003, your bags are packed; “you have brains in your heads; you have feet in your shoes; you can steer yourselves in any direction you choose.” (Seuss, 1990) As you leave Richelieu Valley and as we leave our school, hold on to your uniqueness; it is our strength; keep your sense of self; it is our pride; keep your enthusiasm; it is our joy.
Remember to act as if what you do makes a difference because it does.
Congratulations Graduates! Best Wishes!
Oh, The Places You’ll Go, Dr. T. Seuss, Random House, January 1990