During this coming week Lakeside will be enjoying different graduations of our 4 different programs. This is the time of the year where all the work of our staff, students, parents and others culminate in the successful graduation of our students. It is a major milestone for each of our students that might have seemed almost elusive previously, at some points in their lives.
We are so pleased that we will be graduating almost 100 students from our 4 schools. Souderton Vantage Academy, Upper Merion Vantage Academy, Lakeside Girls Academy and Lakeside School will be all be celebrating these very special graduation luncheons in the next few days. There will be awards, acknowledgements, moving speeches by staff, parents and students culminating in diplomas issued. It is one of the highlights of our year at Lakeside that celebrates all that has occurred during the past year.
High School graduation is a major milestone for any student. However most of our students have had intense difficulties in their home, school and/or community. There have been incredible obstacles to overcome. They were identified and referred to our schools by their home school district because they were unable to succeed in that environment. They needed more academic attention, behavior management and clinical support in an environment where they could learn how to regulate their emotions, work through some very hard issues and find new momentum in their life. There have been all kinds of conversations, confrontations, discussions and challenges all focused on helping them find new ways to deal with all they will face in life.
It is so much more than an academic environment. It is a life environment that is holistic and characterized by caring staff who they have had a personal relationship with and who care for each collective aspect of their lives. It was truly a year of extreme support and partnership to face some of the most difficult life adversities together and to find new ways to cope, new paths to resolve and to experience eventual success.
It is deeply gratifying to reflect on the journey of our graduates in our celebratory luncheons. Their parents and relatives are relieved, our staff is deeply gratified, and our students are elated in the moment. More importantly they can all look to a bright future as they now have the confidence personally and academically to forge their paths in life with great potential and promise.
This is also a special day in that so many of our business partners contribute to the cost of these graduation luncheons. hey too have shared in the success of our programs and students. All in all, this is a day where we all experience the triumph of a job well done! What a great way to end the 2018-19 school year. Congratulations to the Class of 2019 Lakeside graduates!
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
