Five grads honoured at McCrosson-Tovell School

By Ken Johnston
Editor

About 100 people attended the grade 8 graduation of five McCrosson-Tovell students last Monday evening.
This year’s graduation was extra special because the school was hosting exchange students from Bedford, Quebec. All of them, their host families and the graduates and families were treated to a spaghetti dinner at the Bergland Recreation Hall.
Principal Kendall Olsen spoke about how the experience was a great one for both the students from McCrosson that travelled to Bedford earlier in the school year and those visiting last week. It all started last fall when McCrosson’s school council decided that even though the school in Bergland is a small one that they did not feel the kids should be denied big experiences. It was suggested that they try a SEVEC (Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada) exchange. They were paired with Bedford and the rest is history!
Olsen said it was amazing how the dream became reality and how the people of Bergland took ownership and made it happen. He told the grads to use the school motto of dreaming, believing and achieving in their lives.
Class Valedictorian Lewis Linklater thanked all the teachers, educational assistants and other people that made their school lives good at McCrosson-Tovell.
RR Dist. Sc. Board. Director of Education Jack McMaster was in attendance and urged the grads to embrace the opportunities the high school years have to offer them. “I would love to see you graduate in four years.”
Before their diplomas were handed out a number of awards were handed out:
Lake of the Woods Womens’ Institute Good Citizenship Award-Courtney Gibbins
Bobby Fadden Award to the top gr. 7 academic student-Courtney Hansen
Sheila Lagardi Top Athlete Award-Lewis Linklater
Ontario Principals’ Council Award-Lewis Linklater
McCrosson-Tovell Gr. 8 teacher Mike McInerney then proceeded to hand out special gifts, roasting in good fun the graduates and a few other students present at the ceremonies.