Quebec High School honours the Class of 2025
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
As spring turned into summer on June 20, Quebec High School (QHS) congratulated the Class of 2025. Dressed in the traditional blue caps and gowns, graduating students lined the corridor of the school before entering the gym to celebrate with their friends, family and teachers.
This year, the school was honouring a special group, dubbed the “COVID Cohort” because they started high school amid the pandemic. Vice-principal JoAnne Arsenault reminded them of that challenging time, when each group was restricted to a classroom and colour-coded areas as indicated by the colour of their masks. They missed out on key aspects of a typical high school experience: mingling between classes, participating in extracurricular activities and sports and moving from classroom to classroom. That changed once pandemic restrictions were lifted, life returned to normal and students were able to socialize more freely; yet, this period left a mark.
These points were also mentioned in the guest speaker’s address. QHS graduate, retired teacher and vice-principal Gina Farnell gave several pieces of advice: “Learn to let it go! You will meet precious people that you will treasure, and you will meet toxic people; in both cases, you will have to learn to let them go. Life will throw you some curveballs. Life is not fair. You will have to learn to move on,” she said. “You will also have to learn to persevere. Fulfil your dreams, and set goals that can be reached. No one knows where life will take you. There is a difference between stubbornness and perseverance. You will have to figure it out.”
Following her wise words, the ceremony continued with the distribution of diplomas and gold cords for those with averages of 80 per cent or higher. Awards were then distributed; Victor Sweeney, Benjamin Rouleau, valedictorian Ophélie Bernier and Freya Turner-Dufour received five each, and salutatorian Cedrick Goulet-Ratté received four.
Bernier gave the closing speech. “I chose QHS because it is a small school, which means that your business is everyone’s business. This means that we know each other. That sense of closeness between the 63 of us is something special,” she said. “Tonight is the end of a road, one that we have been on for five years. Just as we are starting to know who we are, getting used to the routine and people, we are thrown once again into the void. The imprint of QHS ties us together.”
A reception in the cafeteria followed. A full list of graduates and award winners can be consulted on the QCT website.