Whale Cove (Jun 07/06) - The hamlet of Whale Cove came together to celebrate the second graduating class at Inuglak school this past month.

Inuglak had three Grade 12 graduates for the second year in a row.

Receiving their diplomas in the Class of 2006 were Germaine Ekwalak, Lavenia Voisey and Rachel Misheralak.

A number of dignitaries were on hand to congratulate the grads, including Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Nunavut Deputy Premier Levinia Brown and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. second vice-president Raymond Ningeocheak.

Principal Pat Oliphant says Inuglak has done well since students became eligible to receive their Grade 12 credits in Whale Cove.

"This has been the first two years our students have been allowed to earn their credits through our school," Oliphant says.

"Before that, they had to move out of their home community if they wanted to complete their Grade 12.

"A number of students tended to go to Rankin Inlet to complete Grade 12, but it really depended on which community they had family in."

Oliphant says the fact students can now complete their Grade 12 at home encourages them to do so.

He says one graduate this year has a young child, but was still able to attend school and obtain her diploma.

"That would have been a lot more difficult for her if she had to move to a community where she had far less support.

"There's already a sense of role modelling with our earlier grads and being allowed to obtain credits at home establishes a support network of parents, family, peers and previous graduates."

Oliphant says another advantage to earning their diplomas at home is being familiar with their teachers.

He says continuity is important, as is the relationship a teacher and student builds up over the years.

"Every graduate mentioned their teachers during their speeches and the younger students now look up to those who completed high school.

"We had a 2005 graduate, Maxine Angoo, work at the school this year and the two others also did a bit of substituting.

"The younger kids see those people in the school and nothing but positives can come from that.

"It shows them the benefits of receiving their diplomas.