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.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the first year of high school at CPNS in Tsiigehtchic,SA国际影视传媒� said Beaufort Delta District Education Council (BDDEC) superintendent Devin Roberts. SA国际影视传媒淭he 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.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council in Tsiigehtchic worked with BDDEC to ensure there was housing for teachers. The GNWT was very supportive of the expansion,SA国际影视传媒� Roberts added.

Following in BlakeSA国际影视传媒檚 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.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving their families close by is important to help students feel supported with their education,SA国际影视传媒� said Roberts. SA国际影视传媒淢oving away from home in Grade 10 can potentially create barriers to graduation. Some students can become homesick and can feel disconnected from their family.

SA国际影视传媒淏DDEC wants to eliminate as many barriers as possible to graduation. We want to help students have more choice in their education.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow students can transfer or stay in their home community.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is also important for younger students to see graduates at their school as positive role models.SA国际影视传媒�

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.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese students have had to overcome the adversity of Covid, all of the restrictions, little social contact, sports or niceties of the education system,SA国际影视传媒� said YK1 superintendent Jameel Aziz. SA国际影视传媒淪o for them to persevere and make it to grad is a huge accomplishment.SA国际影视传媒�

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 TSA国际影视传媒橲elehye School had six graduates, Chief Albert Wright School had two graduates, Ehtseo Ayha School had eight graduates and Mackenzie Mountain School had eight graduates.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 a very healthy number of graduates,SA国际影视传媒� said Sahtu Divisional Education Council superintendent Renee Closs. SA国际影视传媒淥ur central office team was able to attend all graduations this year SA国际影视传媒� a first in a long time!

SA国际影视传媒淢any yearsSA国际影视传媒� graduation ceremonies are on the same dates and therefore we have to split up the travel.SA国际影视传媒�

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.