Kuujjuaq grads dance their way into the future

Two students, Alison and Madeline Grist, smile for the camera at the June 14 prom at Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq. (PHOTO BY WILL JOHNSON)

The June 14 prom at Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq included hip-hop and break dancing. (PHOTO BY WILL JOHNSON)

Christina Savard Snowball stands as her name is called during the June 14 presentation of graduates from Kuujjuaq’s Jaanimmarik School in the Kuujjuaq town hall, as Sophie Tukalak looks on. (PHOTO BY ISABELLE DUBOIS)

Leah Grey and Charlie Tukkiapik are all dressed up for the June 14 prom at Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq. (PHOTO BY WILL JOHNSON)

Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq said good-bye to 16 students on June 14 when graduates received diplomas — and then danced the night away at their prom.

When vice-principal Andrea Glazer saw the grads lined up in their gowns to step on to the stage to receive their diplomas, she thought “they looked so proud of themselves.”

“Usually they’re asking ‘how do I look,’” she said. “These were all just there and they were beaming. “I’ve never seen such a confident-looking class. They were just so gracious and grateful in the moment.”

As Christina Savard Snowball rose to collect her high school diploma, her friend Sophie Tukalak proudly looked up at her.

“That’s how the graduates were. They had each others back and were very supportive, and were just pleased as a group that were doing what they were,” Glazer said.

Of the 16 graduates, four from the French sector and two from the English are planning to go on to college, known in Quebec by its French-language acronym, CEGEP.

And one of the students from the French sector was accepted into an English CEGEP, reflecting a noticeable trend of students switching from French to English in their final year, Glazer said.

“If you want to go to CEGEP, you have to prove yourself as being strong enough in French, but for most of them, English is stronger, so strategically it makes more sense in the long run to switch over to English,” Glazer said. “It does tell me that they’re thinking more long term”

At least one graduating student, Christina Savard Snowball, will be going to Secondary Six (the equivalent of Grade 12) in Kangiqsujuaq to attend a Kativik School Board program that prepares students for post-secondary studies in French or English.

Junasie Munick plans to study carpentry at Nunavimmi Pigiursivik in Inukjuak, while Candace Combden, who wants to be a nurse, will be moving to Alberta to pursue her studies.

Several students are interested in science careers, like Anne-Marie Kauki, who wants to become a lab technician.

“I was really impressed. I don’t remember the last time we had grads who were interested in the sciences. I think these graduates were fairly academically minded,” Glazer said.

After the convocation ceremony and a supper at the Kuujjuaq Inn, they attended the prom inside a gym transformed by decorations that lit up in the dark and a fog machine from the Nunalituqait Ikajuqatigituut drug and alcohol prevention program and the Ungaluk Safer Communities program.

Students worked hard to assemble the decorations. And some students made dozens of cupcakes and cookies for the evening.

“I was amazed by how many kids offered to help. That totally contributed to the buy-in of it. They had ownership of it,” Glazer said. “I think we’re going to see some more leadership come out of it from people willing to step up and do a few more things knowing that the end result is to everyone’s enjoyment.”

A prom was on the wish list of students, Glazer said. Students complained there weren’t enough fun things going on at the school or in town. There are different groups who have own “turf” where they hang out, such as at front of the Kativik Regional Government building, the youth centre or the arena.

“So here’s a neutral place where people can come out an enjoy themselves,” Glazer said.

About 120 kids from Grade 7 to Secondary Five (the equivalent of Grade 11) turned out for the event, where the motto was “party safe, party sober.”

When the students came in, they gave an emergency number and received a label along with a cup for their drinks — which were poured from a sealed container.

“We want to make sure that people get what they need, but at the same time we’re not opening up the risk,” Glazer said.

While it was followed by the traditional bonfire which saw students partying all night, the prom prolonged the enjoyment of the day and “they will remember how much fun they had at a sober event,” she said.

The grads, with their future plans, include:

• Sophie Tukalak — undecided, but won the Governor General’s award for academic excellence;

• Christina Savard Snowball — nurse;

• Candace Combden — radiologist or nurse;

• Junasi Munick — carpenter;

• Raymond Koneak — undecided;

• Charlie Tukkiapik — hockey player;

• Jean-David Gagné — work for Air Inuit or join the military;

• Jiika Kauki — undecided;

• George Annanack — undecided;

• Alec Saunders — undecided;

• Victoria Gordon-Adams —photographer, or helicopter pilot;

• Anne-Marie Kauki —laboratory technician;

• Gloria Lingard — undecided;

• Tusaijiapik Imbeault — undecided;

• Alison Mesher —a lawyer; and,

• Davidee Nulukie — pilot.

Air Inuit also distributed bursaries to three students: Tukalak, Kauki and Gagné.

And the New Millennium Iron Corp., which wants to develop a huge mining complex near Schefferville, handed out 15 $500 scholarships to Jaanimmarik students, two of which went to grads Savard and Kauki.

And now grads have another reward to look forward to: the grad trip.

Next week the students, accompanied by two teachers and a member of the local education committee, will visit Costa Rica, where, among other things, they will visit hot springs, volcanoes, jungles and go whitewater rafting.