On Wednesday, June 24th, we celebrated the graduation of our Grade 8 class. Mrs. Yuen opened this year’s ceremony with a warm welcome. The graduates then entered the gym to the traditional Pomp and Circumstance by Elgar. Once everyone was seated, the audience enjoyed a compilation slideshow of our students from the time they started at Wesley. For many in this class, it was in our toddler and preschool programs.
After Mr. Schmidt’s Scripture readings and Mr. Pun’s prayer for the graduates, we were honoured to hear special music sung by Ms. Elizah Espineli.
Next, the Grade 8 student awards were given out, starting with the Christian character awards – The David Award for Leadership, The Nehemiah Award for Perseverance, The Ruth Award for Loyalty, The Paul Award for Stewardship, The Barnabas Award for Encouragement and The Jonathan Award for Friendship.
For the class awards, various teachers in our elementary division went up on stage to present awards for the Gauss Math Competition, Musician of the Year (Male and Female), Athlete of the Year (Male and Female), General Proficiency (highest overall average) and ACE (Attitude, Cooperation, Effort). This year, we awarded two General Proficiency Awards because there was a tie for the highest overall average!
The last award was the Principal’s Award, given by Mrs. Serio herself. This year, she decided to award it to two outstanding students!
After the awards, there was special ceremony to recognize Miss Phillips, who will be retiring this year, after 26 years of faithful service. Ms. Hoover presented her with a beautiful framed photo of Wesley, and Mrs. Serio shared a few words about this beloved teacher’s tremendous contributions to our school.
Next, Ms. Espineli and Pastor Jeremiah from the Olive Branch Community Church in Markham, led the audience in singing two worship songs.
This was followed by the moment that everyone was waiting for – the diploma ceremony! All forty of this year’s diplomas were handed out by Mrs. Serio.
After the diploma ceremony, the audience enjoyed another slideshow consisting of some thoughts and memories written by our graduates about their time at Wesley.
Our guest speaker at the ceremony was Pastor Jeremiah, who often spoke at our weekly chapel services this year. His message of encouragement to our graduates centred around this year’s theme, The Armour of God, (Ephesians 6:10-17). The core of his message was not new to the graduating class, but his main point needed to be reinforced – the same armour that was put on in Grade 8 will be needed in high school. As they step onto a larger battlefield, they will need more of God’s truth (belt), righteousness (breastplate), peace (shoes), faith (shield), salvation (helmet) and Spirit (sword). They must also strive to want to have a spiritual life – a relationship with Jesus. He shared, “A Bible that stays closed cannot shape an open future.” Many heads nodded as they thought about that phrase.
As he wound down his message, Pastor Jeremiah congratulated the students for completing their time at Wesley. He compared it to a soldier’s completion of Basic Training. However, he also emphasized that once a soldier completes Basic Training, he doesn’t leave his armour behind. Then, he took some time to address the parents in the audience. He applauded them for making such a big investment in their children by sending them to Wesley. Like them, he hopes that the foundation that they have received at the school will serve them well in the future. Pastor Jeremiah concluded by reminding the Grade 8 Class of 2026 that their Wesley diploma will take them into high school, but it’s God’s Armour that takes them into life. His closing prayer echoed his message . He asked God that He remind the graduates to keep their Armour on and never forget whose they are. He prayed for wisdom for parents for all the conversations ahead as well as strength to let go when it is time. Lastly, he prayed for the Wesley teachers, who poured so much of themselves into each student, asking God to replenish them with rest and strength for the next year.
After the prayer, the Class of 2026 was congratulated once more and exited the gym for one last class photo together.
Mrs. Serio closed the evening with some final remarks and a prayer for the graduates. Everyone was then invited outside for photos before returning to the gym for light refreshments, an opportunity to use the photo booths, and play a few Wesley trivia games.
We are very proud of our Class of 2026 and wish them God’s grace and love as they leave Wesley’s doors. May they take all that they have learned and experienced here into the world and be a light for Christ, wearing His Armour, as they move forward onto new and different paths that God has set before them.