Jases Weekend of Graduation
Its been an exciting year for Jase and his
classmates being the oldest students in the school and looking forward to all
the different events, and opportunities that a sixth grader has to look forward
to. Amoung those, and the most
prestigious of them all, is their graduation weekend. I say graduation weekend because at the
Seventh Day Adventist school for graduation is go big or go home! The make it a
celebration to last all weekend. And
throughout the weekend each student and parent were given something to do
during each presentation. Wether is was
a prayer, talk, scripture, introduction to a speaker or song ext.. A long
weekend but a good weekend.
It begins on the Friday evening with what they
refer to as the Night of Consecration.
The term at the school is used in a different way then we understand it
to mean so at first we weren't sure what sort of event was taking place and if
we would participate. But it was a
evening where the parents, in a way, sent off their students to the next level
of education with good thoughts and a prayer by a pastor. My part for this evening was to be Jases
parent representative by walking him down the isle of graduates and introduce the
dutch song that the graduating class was singing, "Oh wat a helika, helika
dag." I think if means Oh What a Wonderful, Wonderful, day. Well I don't know if everyone chuckled at the
way my face looked as I concentrated on pronouncing it right or how funny it
sounded! The kids song turned out great none the less!
They handed out candles to all of the students
and the parent for that evening, me, went up to the front and lit a candle
which would light theirs but upon doing so say a few words to their
graduate. I don't really remember what I
said but something along the lines of how impressed we are with his thirst for
knowledge, and his kindness to all those around him, and to always remember how
much we and his Heavenly Father loves him.
There were a couple more remarks made after the candle ceremony and that
was it. I think Jase felt really special
- we hope he did.
Saturday, being their Sabbath, was spent with
the graduates conducting the meeting throughout the morning called the
Baccalaureate Service. The meetings for
the day were opened with some of the students introducing songs, scripture
reading or the welcome. Jase sat up
there with some of the students opening the meetings. Jase read the Scripture, 2 Timothy 2:14 -
15. He did a great job.
For the next section of the graduates spotlight
Todd was Jases parent for the day. He
walked Jase down the graduating isle to the music that they used the entire
weekend, "Chariots of Fire".
It was really nice watching my boys walk down together and take their
sets in front of the crowd. For this
section the read more scripture together. And Sharique presented a very nice
speech.
Throughout the three graduate services during
the weekend they showed short clips of each student sharing their aspirations in
life. It was a really nice idea! Jase's is to be a scientist.
Exiting after the 3 hours of meetings were done
to shake hand with those from the congregations wishing to give congratulations
to the graduates. They did a fine job.
The big day of gowns and hats were finally
here. After hours, literally, of ironing
Jase looked sharp as ever!
With Jase choosing his Dad as his representing
parent to walk him up to his graduating seat you can see the gold rope around
his neck! Having the best marks in the
class he was our valedictorian this year!
With the school year being mostly Dutch and his teacher speaking Dutch
to the kids pretty much 100% of the time we were so proud of his
accomplishments and so were his teachers!
The Commencement Service was a lot of fun! It encompassed some speeches, musical numbers
by the graduating class and invited guests, presentations of the students,
their diplomas, and gifts, and Jases valedictorian speech.
Statia anthem sung by Nicole and Shadrach Blair
and a welcome by Cefritz Hamilton and Saadig McKenzie
Speakers Mr. Carlylr Tearr and Ms. Ykerna
Rivers
It seamed like there was a couple different
musical numbers done by the graduating class that afternoon. One was called Today My Life Begins.
Awards were handed out to all of the
students. They were each given a
laminated paper with endearing thoughts and encouragement's from their
teachers. While receiving these monuments the teachers announced which class
each student will be attending as they enter into middle school.
This is Jase's Explanation of the different
classes. There are 5 classes you can be put in after graduating from grade six.
In a Dutch school you can go to Ago (pronounced ahh-ho with a lot of back
throat sound on the ahh) that is the lowest class you can be put into, if you
end up there you need to work ALOT harder. Above that is schakle class C I
don’t know how to spell it but you pronounce it skaakle class C. There you
still need to do better because if you end up in those 2 classes and don’t
improve you won’t be able to get a very good job in the future. Then there in
schakle class B this is better then ending up in the bottom 2 because it means
that you are only a little below grade level and need to improve. Schakle class
A is where you should go if you’re on grade level. The Netherlands (Dutch) curriculum is used in
all these classes so if you can’t speak Dutch well you can’t end up here. Then
there is Havo, Pronounced ‘have-o’. That
class means you are above your grade level and don’t need any of the
preparatory schakle classes before going to Havo. I ended up in Havo but never
got to attend.
So yes the high school board placed Jase, the
board is a collection of high school teachers/principles who decide using the
students grades and attitudes as to what class they will be attending, to go
strait into Havo!! He is too smart for his own good! And yes he was also very
disappointed that he will never have the chance to even try out the Havo class.
With Tr. Helen and Debora
The presentation of diplomas and shaking hands
with Principle LaVern, Ms. Gerene Joseph - if I remember correctly she is the
area authority for the SDA Church over education, Governor Berkel and his wife,
Mr. Lane (but I can’t remember his last name) he is the Principle of the
Gwendeline Van Putton School - where Jase would have been attending after this
one, and another gentlemen from the area SDA school board I believe (sorry if
I'm wrong!)
Jase was then invited up again to receive from Principle
LaVern the Valedictorian award for the SDA School year 2012 – 2013!! We were so proud!
And following his award he gave his Valedictorian
Speech. He chose to speak on the topic
of being thankful, grateful and having an attitude of gratitude. In our day and
age people seam to be to worried about what they don’t have and what everyone
else seams to have and are not recognizing the amazing bounties in our
lives. Here is a quote he used in his
speech.
“ Gratitude is a mark
of a noble and refined person. We like to be around those who are grateful and
bring us up with them. They brighten wherever they are and make people feel
special, or better about themselves. They are usually more joyful, humble and likeable.
Gratitude is a
feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have
received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy
and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the
blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.”
He then, after his speech, handed out a simple gift to
each of his classmates. A volcanic rock he had collected off of the beach. It symbolized the rock in a short story he talked
about in his speech; a wise
man said to carry a gratitude rock in our pocket.
“It’s
really just a small, smooth stone that he picked up from the fishpond behind his
house. He carried it with him where ever he went. Whenever his hand would contact
the stone–usually several times a day–He would give thanks for whatever is
happening at that moment, whether good or bad.
It
is amazing how this simple act changed His perspective and, ultimately, His attitude.
Instead of seeing the glass half-empty, He would see it half-full. Instead of
focusing on what He didn’t have, He focused on what he had–right now.”
You see Jase's sash (?) falling off - the young lady who sat behind him got up and fixed it for him before her sat down. So sweet.
And a closing thanks by classmates Ayanna David and D’Angelo
Queeley
Following the service/ceremony was a toast to the graduates
and snacks outside. Well between the two
Jase came up to us and we found out that he was really sick!! He hadn’t been feeling well at church that
morning so he had a nap before he went to his graduating ceremony. On the stage he kept mouthing something to me
and I thought he was saying he was scared, “I’m Scared”, which we thought to be
completely normal with the anticipation of talking in front of a hundred or so
people. But what he was really mouthing,
“I’m Sick”. Poor kid!! So he was sitting
up there the whole time just feeling horrible, and saying his speech feeling
horrible and trying to look happy. – I was wondering why he looked so sullen –
I thought it was nerves!
We went out for his toast…
He tried to shake a few hand with some people – Uncle
Ishmael and Governor Berkel. It was so sweet of Uncle Ishmael to call us on the first day he heard of Jase being the valedictorian to seek out my cell phone number from Jase to call and congratulate us. And throughout the week there were many people throughout the SDA community who congratulated us on Jase's success!
I then made him pose with his sisters, and some friends – he
wanted pictures with them but was feeling so aweful!!
Jase, Raphael, & Julian
Jase & Chevron
Jase & Sharique
Jase, Delvin, Sharique & Julian.
Poor kid couldn’t handle anymore so we took him home strait
to bed. He had a fever all night and was
still not completely well the next day so he missed school.
The school wanted to have his graduating gown handed in by this next
week – the last week of school - but I really wanted to have some nice pictures
of Jase in his Graduating duds!! I asked
the school and they let me keep the gown for the weekend to get pictures!! It was so nice of them!
And it was soooooo nice of our sweet friend Hannah Farrell
to take some amazing pictures of Jase in his graduating outfit and us as a
family and whole bunch of family pictures! We have never done that before – I’ll show
those in a later post! But she is
amazing!
Happy Graduation Jase!
We love you!
Hannah is returning to Cardston, Alberta this week!! If you are looking to get some amazing photos check her out!
Hannah Paige Photography
