Small school, big family

Celebratory meal precedes École Pierre-Chiasson graduation

Prior to standing before their family, friends and community members to receive their graduation diplomas, Holly Perry and Riley Richard sat with their family, friends and teachers for a celebration meal and to reminisce.

“It’s just very nostalgic to look back on all our memories here,” said Perry, École Pierre-Chiasson class of 2017 valedictorian, as she fussed with her gown and prepared for the actually graduation ceremony. “We’ve spent over 12 years here.”

Perry and Richard comprise this year’s graduating class at the West Prince French language school in DeBlois.

The role of class valedictorian, said Perry, sort of fell to her because she always has lots to say.

Richard was quite content for Perry to do the speaking on his behalf. He was a man of few words even for an interview. “That’s our Riley,” principal Ghislain Bernard acknowledged. But Bernard pointed out Richard lets his actions do the talking.

“Riley has always been – and he won’t admit to this because he is so humble – but he has always worked very, very hard at his school work and anything we asked him to do. Riley is the type of fellow that, if something merits being done, it merits being done well, and he always did that.”

The principal described Perry as having a million-dollar personality.

“Everybody likes Holly. She’ll tell you how it is, but that’s OK, and she has many, many talents, he said, listing music and an untapped running ability. He recalled the Terry Fox Run when she was in Grade 2. A couple of High School students led the runners and then came Perry with enough energy left over to keep going.

“As graduates, I hope that we will always keep the spirit that even though we come from a small place, it does not define the size of our dreams and accomplishments,” said Perry in her valedictory address (translated). Perry admitted she enjoyed the small school.

“We’re all kind of equal to each other, I guess,” she said of the combined classes. “We’re all a big group and we kind of always stick together.” Unable to name just one favourite memory, she reflected, “We’re kind of like one big family, so I think every moment here was definitely a nice memory.” The pre-graduation meal was an opportunity to share stories, and Perry said it was nice to be reminded of events from their school years. Her principal also read one of her English essays.

The gathering also heard of Richard having lawn chairs stashed in school lockers. “At recess time, he’d pull out his lawn chair and sit in his lawn chair and have a coffee,” Bernard recalled.

Richard, who is working fulltime as a farmhand, said he hasn’t decided what his future will hold.

“Day-by-day,” he declared.