Twenty students from École Pointe-des-Chênes in Ste. Anne have completed their high school education and will accept their diplomas Friday.

Teacher and Grad Adviser Richard Verrier, says there are many small clusters of students with tremendous friendships. "I think growing up in a small community and going to school together for 13 years you develop these tight knit friendships. But when it was time to show school spirit the whole bunch would gather and often times would band together as a whole group. That aspect of having multiple small groups of friendships was different."

Verrier says Nikita Dornez, who will attend the University of St. Boniface in the fall to pursue a teaching degree, was chosen as the Valedictorian to represent her classmates at their graduation ceremony. Dornez says she was honoured and absolutely speechless when she found out. She says her class was more like a family growing up together. "For most of us we graduated from preschool together and now we are graduating from high school. Together we have created life long memories and friendships, and I think that bond is very unique."

What Dornez says she'll miss most are the students who will be standing next to her at graduation, and the teachers who supported them through the years. "I hope we will follow our dreams creating opportunities and adventure wherever we may end up. Good luck!"

Verrier hopes these students will strive and keep working hard for their dreams, and to dream big. He notes, the pursuit of money and happiness that society tries to instill is not really that important, but it's relationships that are most important in life. “So to show respect towards others others with differences, and to show compassion, and to help and support others are important traits. The most important things in life are friendships and relationships.”

Convocation is at the Catholic Church in Ste. Anne on Friday, June 23, with a banquet and dance at Evergreen Village.