Superintendent Amos' message to 2025 graduating class

It is with immense honour and privilege that I bring greetings to you. Today, we celebrate you and your milestone accomplishment.  We pay tribute not just to the end of Grade 12, but to the culmination of a remarkable 13-year journey—one that began all the way back when you started Kindergarten. 

Think back to that very first day—tiny backpacks, great expectations or anxieties, and wide eyes as you stepped into school and maybe on a school bus for the first time. Back then, you learned how to line up, share crayons, and spell your own name. You made your first friends, some of whom may still be with you today. 

In the early grades, you mastered the foundations of learning—read your first book, tackled math, and wrote your first story. You explored your creativity with glue and glitter, sang songs about the seasons, and maybe even played your first note on a recorder. 

As the years progressed, your world grew, and you gained independence. You might have joined sports teams, auditioned for plays, ran for student council, and dove into science fairs or other projects. You discovered passions in art studios and band rooms, on soccer fields, basketball courts, or in debate clubs and robotics teams. You were learning the kind of person you wanted to be, how you wanted to explore life's options, and how you want to treat others. 

You learned to persevere through assignments, tests, friendships, and tougher moments.  You grew into leaders, teammates, and friends. For some of you the academic and social aspect of school has been a strength, and for others it has been a stretch.  Along the way, you’ve faced challenges no one could have predicted—especially in recent years (like the word we want to forget – the covid pandemic). You met those times with resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and courage. No matter what your personal journey has been, you have now arrived.  Be proud. You are so deserving. 

Your teachers, even though they cannot all be here with you today, — every single one from Kindergarten to Grade 12—have been your guides and cheerleaders. They’ve challenged you to think deeper, aim higher, and believe in yourselves. Your friends have shared laughter, late-night study sessions, inside jokes, and unforgettable memories. And your loved ones have stood behind you every step of the way. 

Today, you leave as graduates. But you also leave as artists, athletes, thinkers, leaders, and citizens of the world. You are ready—not just because of what you’ve learned, but because of who you’ve become. You are caring, connected, and contributing human beings. 

As you walk across this stage, remember every step that brought you here—from your first recess game to your final exam. Hold on to the friendships, the lessons, the laughter—and carry them into your future. 

In summary, I invite you to ponder an important model of development and life that comes to us from a great Indigenous leader, Dr. Martin Brokenleg, whose work is inspiring and is lived out by many friends and relatives. 

The Circle of Courage is a model of youth development that integrates Indigenous wisdom and contemporary psychology. It emphasizes four core values essential for healthy emotional and social development: 

1. Belonging – Every child needs to feel accepted and connected to others. A sense of belonging comes from being valued by family, peers, school, and community. 

2. Mastery – Young people need to feel capable and competent. This means learning new skills, achieving goals, and gaining confidence through effort and success. 

3. Independence – Developing self-control, responsibility, and confidence is crucial. Children need opportunities to make choices and learn from them. 

4. Generosity – True maturity involves caring for others and giving back. When young people feel they can make a positive difference, they gain a sense of purpose. 

Together, these values form a balanced “circle” that supports the growth of resilient, respectful, and responsible individuals. The goal is to nurture all four in harmony. I truly hope that your K-12 education has contributed to your belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. 

Congratulations, Class of 2025. You bring us pride and joy beyond measure. The road ahead is yours to shape—the world needs you-and we can't wait to see where your road leads you. 

With admiration and heartfelt wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful future. 

 
Shelley Amos 
Superintendent/CEO