Chief Paul Niditchie School is celebrating a milestone this year.
The Tsiigehtchic school just witnessed its first high school graduate cross the stage, Lloyd Blake.
“This is the first year of high school at CPNS in Tsiigehtchic,” said Beaufort Delta District Education Council (BDDEC) superintendent Devin Roberts. “The district education council in March of 2022 approved the expansion of high school. BDDEC worked with the Tsiigehtchic District Education Authority to establish a new high school program. Extra staff were added to CPNS to staff the high school.
“The Gwichya Gwich’in Council in Tsiigehtchic worked with BDDEC to ensure there was housing for teachers. The GNWT was very supportive of the expansion,” Roberts added.
Following in Blake’s footsteps are seven fellow high school students who are on track to complete their diplomas in the coming years. Roberts said the school has eight students enrolled for next year.
This year, all classes were in-person, but Roberts said the school will offer Northern Distance Learning next year, expanding the options students have without forcing them to leave their hometown.
“Having their families close by is important to help students feel supported with their education,” said Roberts. “Moving away from home in Grade 10 can potentially create barriers to graduation. Some students can become homesick and can feel disconnected from their family.
“BDDEC wants to eliminate as many barriers as possible to graduation. We want to help students have more choice in their education.
“Now students can transfer or stay in their home community.
“It is also important for younger students to see graduates at their school as positive role models.”
In total, 280 NWT students earned their high school diplomas in 2023.
Around the Delta, BDDEC graduated a total of 57 students this year. Joining Blake in Tsiigehtchic were 36 grads in Inuvik, four in Tuktoyaktuk, two in Paulatuk, five in Aklavik, two in Fort McPherson and seven in Ulukhaktok.
The largest graduating class in the Beaufort Delta was in 2008 in Inuvik (at the former Samuel Hearne Secondary School), where 42 students graduated.
Yellowknife Catholic Schools graduated 61 students this year. Sir John Franklin High School produced 117 grads this year and there were seven grads at Kalemi Dene School, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ndilo Education Authority but receives support from Yellowknife Education District No. 1.
“These students have had to overcome the adversity of Covid, all of the restrictions, little social contact, sports or niceties of the education system,” said YK1 superintendent Jameel Aziz. “So for them to persevere and make it to grad is a huge accomplishment.”
In the Sahtu, 26 students crossed the stage to earn their diploma.
Colville Lake School had two graduates with one graduate completing the majority of her high school credits through the Northern Distance Learning program, Chief T’Selehye School had six graduates, Chief Albert Wright School had two graduates, Ehtseo Ayha School had eight graduates and Mackenzie Mountain School had eight graduates.
“That’s a very healthy number of graduates,” said Sahtu Divisional Education Council superintendent Renee Closs. “Our central office team was able to attend all graduations this year — a first in a long time!
“Many years’ graduation ceremonies are on the same dates and therefore we have to split up the travel.”
In the Dehcho, 12 students completed high school this year. Five of those graduates were in Fort Providence, another five were in Fort Simpson and two grads were in Fort Liard.