The Independent

Parents and friends packed Bradshaw Hall at LCCVI to honour the Class of 2026 Thursday.

About 200 students crossed the stage ahead of exam week during the two-hour ceremony. Principal Rhonda Leystra compared the graduates school experience to the growth of a tree, with the high school years as a time to grow and expand.

“You have matured,” Leystra told the students. “You know who you are so much better than you did back in Grade 9, four very short years ago…What did you find out about yourself and what are you going to save for the future?”

Before the presentations of diplomas, Music Teacher Jessica McKay was honoured by Loren Scholar and LCCVI Alumni Emma Patchett with the Teachers Building Leaders Award from the foundation.

The Loren Foundation give the award to teachers who “impart wisdom that shapes how the young people they teach interpret the world around them, challenging them to question how they can make that world a better place, and inspiring them to see and reach their full potential,” according to the foundation’s website.

Pachett, who spent many hours in the music room at LCCVI, nominated McKay saying “she has a unique ability to connect with students on a personal level, making everyone feel valued, encouraged and genuinely cared for.”