Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Hay River (July 09/01) - Proud parents, friends and family packed the concourse of Diamond Jenness high school to wish the Hay River 2001 graduating class well on the first step of their long journey.

With the theme for this year's class drawn from Confucius' phrase, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,' Diamond Jenness staffers said so long to one of the largest and most academically-advanced classes ever.

And while just at the beginning of their journey, the grads bid farewell to four who have walked many miles along the long road of education. Principal Ray Young, teachers Graham Mitchell, Pat Burnstad and Bruce Green will all retire this year.

Speaking to his last group of grads, principal Young noted the high achievement of this class.

"You people have a lot of potential," Young said. "I've seen it, your teachers have seen it, your parents have seen it -- don't waste it."

As he reminisced on his years at Diamond Jenness, he recalled the slogan he's always kept on his wall: "Maturity is not how old you are, it's how you act."

This class was the last he taught before moving up into the principal's office.

"I regret being there, because I have lost contact with the kids," he admitted. "The kids have kept me in education for 33 years and you were the last ones I really enjoyed -- my last class."

Valedictorian Morgan Schauerte thanked Young, Mitchell, Burnstad and Green for their years of service to the school and wished them well, saying they would be missed.

Invited guests included Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin Andrew, Deputy Premier Jane Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River North, Paul Delory.

In closing, Young reminded the class and the people gathered that the journey is a life-long lesson.