The Moose Kerr School Class of 2025 left their high school days behind them in fine style during this year's graduation ceremony.
Janine Johnson, the school鈥檚 principal, said the gymnasium was well-decorated with a country-and-western theme.
鈥淪ome of the kids came with their cowboy boots on, and their family members with their cowboy hats on. So it was a really nice, fun theme,鈥� Johnson said.
Seven Grade 12 students in Aklavik walked across the stage this year to accept their diplomas: Erwin Elias, Loretta Koe, Coby Elanik, Edyn Arey, Jordan Archie, Talina Storr and Jesse Irish.
Johnson said this year's class valedictorian was Edyn Arey, who also received the Governor General鈥檚 award.
鈥淎nd we have a new award that we created this year, a really beautiful award called the Philip Elanik Memorial Award. Philip Elanik was a community member who was a beautiful drum dancer, and he died of cancer, but he actually saved his children in a house fire. So the award was created in memory of him, and it shows courage, resilience and a real love of their Inuvialuit culture.鈥�
Johnson said that award was presented to Jordan Archie, along with a $500 grant, which was recently donated by a relative of Arnold J. (Moose) Kerr, who lives in Toronto.
Two other students, Talina Storr and Jesse Irish, each won a leadership award 鈥� a $500 grant from the Hockey Hall of Fame, she said, adding that they were two of 25 grants provided to students across the North.
Johnson said Irish has been instrumental in volunteering with the junior kindergarten class 鈥渁nd they love him.鈥�
鈥淗e's been with them for three or four years, and he creates these beautiful creatures out of pipe cleaners. And you know, he shares that with them. And he comes to school every single day. He never misses a day. He's a very diligent student.鈥�
Storr volunteers as an official at regional sports events, she noted.
鈥淪he loves sports, but she has a really great relationship with the Elders in her life. And, you know, she's very respectful of them.
鈥淪o they kind of won each of those grants based on those qualities.鈥�
Johnson said the school has worked closely with the Hockey Hall of Fame organization over the year.
鈥淭hey provide live virtual sessions that we sign up for if we want to, but kids do traditional things, like, they make beaded earrings and all kinds of amazing things, like birch bark baskets and stuff, and so they've been a really good partner with us.鈥�
鈥淭hey also offer a digital scholarship for kids. So I wrote probably about 15 letters for kids to get them a MacBook Pro, and they all were approved for that.
鈥淪o each of the kids got this beautiful MacBook Pro computer laptop, and they sent them here and we presented them,鈥� she said.
Moral support
Graduation is a significant event in the school of 120 pupils, and Grade 12 students cast important influences on others, Johnson said.
鈥淓ach of our classrooms in the school adopted a grad. And a couple of times throughout the year, they might post something on their locker, or they might post a big picture on their wall near their high school classroom, saying, 鈥楬ang in there. Loretta, your graduation is coming up. We're proud of you.鈥�
鈥淪o the good thing about a small school and a small class is that everybody in the school knows them, and they really become like role models for the little kids. And they look at them and they say, 鈥業 can't wait until I graduate. I know I can.鈥�
鈥淎nd I heard some of the little ones in Grade 4 and 5 talking about when they get there. So in that way, it's real nice.鈥�
Many paths to success
鈥淲e're really proud of those kids too, right? Especially, you know, the kids who are in it for the long haul, it's not always easy for them. And they really show some resilience. Some have come back after years of being away. And we鈥檝e got some kids graduating at 18 and 19, and we have one that was 21, so everybody's path is different.鈥�
Johnson said community support is key to ensuring a memorable graduation ceremony, and both staff and community organizations help raise the necessary funds for the big celebration.
鈥淓verybody steps up, so they shut down the offices, local offices, and everybody comes and attends. It's a really nice time for the community, and everybody celebrates in the success of these young people.
"And we鈥檝e got a big gym, and we kind of go all out with graduation. And we had a community feast, and so we had a beautiful night,鈥� she added.
