A new chapter in the history of St. Anthony’s School was started on Saturday as the Class of 2012 graduated from their new school.
This class featured 31 students all determined to take on the world, as spelled out in their theme “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Christ the Redeemer School Division superintendent Michael O’Brien brought levity to the ceremony while recognizing the weight of the occasion.
“Indeed your achievements as the 2012 graduating class of St. Anthony’s School are being celebrated here this afternoon. To add to that, you are the first class to graduate from this wonderful new facility, and I can tell you the only person happier than Tim (Gregorash) is me,” he said. “I am sure you will remember this the rest of your life.”
“I believe what should make you and your family the most proud is not the actual honour itself, but what you did to get it. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘The reward of a thing well done is having done it.’ Any other recognition is the icing on the cake.”
He added the challenges don’t end at graduation.
“As you move through life you will be constantly asked to answer questions, and this is really important. Are you one to stand up for what you believe, to stand up for your family, for yourself, for your faith, even when you are challenged? While it might be easy to slide through life without purpose, without faith it is not for the better. Only by setting difficult goals and achieving them, we find true self worth and follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Trustee Paul Andrew and Principal Tim Gregorash also brought congratulatory messages during the commencement. Graduand Liam Lewandowski brought thanks to the teacher and parents, before the diplomas were presented to the attending graduates.
Valedictorian Arianna McDonald expertly dissected the work trajectory to bring an inspiring message.
“We’ve been told to dream big and reach for the stars. We’ve been told that no dream and no aspiration is too high or too far away, it is all within our grasp. Right now is the time to start making every move we make with purpose so we can reach our goals,” she told the Class of 2012.
“… As we keep moving forward to whatever things in our mind-blowing futures hold, we will hold this one word in the forefront of our mind; trajectory. We’ve been places, we are off to great places and right now we are moving.”