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The Community
Press
Your LOCAL Paper Volume 113, Issue 12
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
ALLY ANDERSON PHOTO
Central High graduate Emily Harty shares a dance with her dad Craig Tanton at the Central High Sedgewick Public School graduation ceremonies held at the Hardisty Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, Sept. 12. More grad coverage inside!
Central High graduation celebrates extraordinary year for Class of 2020 Leslie Cholowsky Editor
For the 2020 graduating class of Central High Sedgewick Public School (CHSPS) their final year started out with a fire and ended with a pandemic. As Valedictorian Ainslie Borth said during her address, “Our school motto was right on the money this year: The class of 2020 sitting before you is proof that in our case, there was no ‘Victory without struggle.’” “This may not be the Grade 12 year we wished for, but we cannot let that distract us from the achievements we have accomplished, as individuals and also as a whole. “I know we will not forget our final year of high school, how could we, so let it serve as a reminder that, as Dieter Burdorf said, “It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop.” CHSPS’s Class of 2020 featured 44 students, unfortunately six of those were unable to attend Saturday’s graduation ceremonies, held outdoors at the Hardisty Rodeo grounds. CHSPS retired teachers Heather Chevraux and Ian MacEachern pro-
vided support to the Parent Grad committee, and also served to present the awards and introduce the graduates. Grade 11 student Shelby Tanton served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Chevraux was also the guest speaker for this year’s class. Chevraux had much to say about the advantages of small town schools. “Parents know teachers as members of the community, and therefore education becomes a personal process. Teachers know student’s families, and give support in all situations.” She added, “There are so many connections in a rural area. I think of my connections to this class.” She talked about personal connections she had with many of the graduates, from having her own children babysit them, to having taught the parents of some of the graduates. “That was my clue it was time to retire,” she joked. “All of these connections may not seem important, but they mean you have a whole village looking after you,” she told the graduates. “These connections mean community.” She also talked about how smaller schools allow for greater participation in
school sports, and how better participation leads to better engagement, which leads to better attendance and higher marks. Chevraux talked about the degree that smaller schools are supported by the community, using the 32 scholarships to be presented that day, representing an investment of more than $10,000 into the school and students, as just one example. She talked about the advantages that rural students gain by having a connection to and knowledge of food sources, and encouraged them to share that knowledge with their more urban counterparts going forward. “I’d say that your small town roots are pretty amazing.” She encouraged graduates to move to the city to get an education, to travel the world, but in the end, to return home, “We need your talent; your children will need our school, and you need your small town roots.” As a finite number of guests were allowed at the event due to public health guidelines, traditional presentations from the board trustees, principal’s address, and two teachers address were read by others, or given via recordings. Susan MacKinnon gave the parent
salute to the students, and had some sage advice for the Class of 2020. MacKinnon said, “Be proud of where you come from. Your rural upbringing has helped shape the individuals you are. “While it may have seemed like everyone knew your business and what you were up to, remember those same people have been concerned for you, cheered you on, and will stand behind you as you begin a new chapter. Remember it, because there may be times when you need that support.” MacKinnon told graduates, “Be mindful of how much time and attention you devote to social media. While there are good things that come from this platform, I never cease to be amazed how some people feel brave enough to be petty, small, and cruel while hiding behind their screens. “You aren’t obligated to respond to every post, you have far more important things to do with your time. As Winston Churchill said, “You’ll never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks along the way.” She called time the great equalizer: “Today we are looking at you wondering where the time went, how those See GRAD P17