Four rare birds were nudged from their comfortable, safe nests out into the bright blue sky, June 27. Those birds were the 2013 graduates of Ecole Desrochers.
“We feel graduation is like a baby bird’s first flight,” said Sabrina Charlebois in her valedictorian speech. “And just like a baby bird, we are exhilarated beyond belief that we have finally achieved independence and the freedom to spread our wings, and yet, just like a baby bird, we are also quite intimidated and somewhat scared of the sky.”
Charlebois thanked teachers, parents, friends and the community of Jasper for ensuring that she and her classmates—Gabriel Kreiner, Ashley Hayes and Madolan McKenzie—were prepared for this day.
“We wouldn’t have been here without you and we are so grateful for all of your efforts in getting us to this day.”
Laurent Bolduc, a school board trustee with Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord, also thanked the teachers and staff, acknowledging how difficult it can be to run such a small school with limited resources.
And he thanked the students for choosing to attend Ecole Desrochers.
“Going through school at Ecole Desrochers comes with sacrifices.
“When I see what these students are doing, making a conscious choice to make sure they keep the French culture alive in North America, it really motivates me and it makes me very proud.
“I wish you all a great life. It was a pleasure to watch you grow over all these years.”
