Graduation season has arrived, and at École Heritage Immersion in St Pierre-Jolys, that means celebrating a class full of talent, spirit, and leadership.
Among them, Grade 12 student Ava Pilotte has been chosen as the 2025 valedictorian, a surprise she says she didn’t expect but is honoured to take on.
“So at our school,” Ava explains, “we, as grads, answer some questions and then they are submitted to our English teacher, who gets all the answers and brings the top three choices to the teachers. They decide as a whole which student should be the valedictorian. Yeah. So that’s how I was chosen valedictorian.”
Ava says she found out during a regular school day.
“One day, I walked into the English classroom, because that’s where I study, and the English teacher had a spare during third period. And she just told me like, ‘Oh, you're valedictorian.’ And I was really surprised.”
Though thrilled, Ava admits the idea of giving a speech in front of a crowd makes her nervous.
“Public speaking is kind of scary,” she notes, “but I’m excited. Our class is really a great group of people, so I’m excited to represent them.”
When asked how it feels to speak on behalf of her peers, she reflected, “It feels like a big responsibility ’cause there’s like a lot of great personalities in our class. Having to really represent everyone is like something really big and hard to do, but I hope my speech can really convey everyone’s experience in high school.”
For Ava, the best part of school wasn’t a subject or event; it was the people.
“Just getting to meet everyone and do things with them. Even just learning in class, all the discussions, or if we’re on the same sports team… the conversations on the bus rides, supporting each other at sporting events, doing stuff for the community. We just did a ‘Kick Cancer to the Curb’ event. I think it brought a lot of people together.”
Ava was active in school sports, too. “Volleyball, track and field, badminton for a few years… softball and cross country,” she listed.
After graduation, Ava’s next chapter begins at the University of Ottawa, where she’ll study anthropology and work at Parliament during her first year, where she will be a Page.
“I hope to become a forensic anthropologist. I kind of wanted to be a teacher at first, but then I got really into forensics and science. Forensic anthropology is helping people, and I get the science part, too. So I think it’s a good job.”
Her advice for her fellow grads
“Don’t settle for anything that makes you anything less than happy. Work hard towards your happiness, don’t just let it come to you. Life’s too long to not be happy, so go find your happiness and do what makes you happy.”
A Vibrant Year and a Growing School
Principal Julie Karatchuk, who returned to École Heritage Immersion this year after some time away, spoke highly of the school’s growth and the strength of the 2025 graduating class.
“École Heritage Immersion is a very dynamic school,” she said. “We’re a K to 12 school with a strong, connected community. There’s a real sense of family here. We have mentorship between older and younger students, lots of collaboration and shared activities. It’s an exciting place to be.”
This year’s graduating class is noticeably larger than last year’s, with 29 students compared to 17 in 2024. According to Karatchuk, this growth reflects broader trends.
“We’re seeing increased enrollment in the area, especially in rural communities around St. Pierre. Families are moving in, and the Immersion program is very sought-after.”
Describing the Class of 2025
“They’re so much fun,” she said with a smile. “Some of these students, like Ava, I’ve known since kindergarten. They’re dynamic, outgoing, and love to push their own learning. We even had a whole pre-cal class volunteer for after-school tutoring before their provincial exams. That’s how dedicated they are.”
The principal also highlighted the students’ involvement in music, art, and sports, saying the graduates are a true reflection of the school’s values.
Principal's parting message to the graduating class of 2025
“Grace, grit, and joy."
"Find joy in what you're doing. You will do work that you're not going to like, you may be in a job that is not your forever job, but to know that, you have the grit to get through that, so that you are prepared that when something does come along, that is what you are wanting, that you will be ready for that, and you will find joy; in what you enjoy doing with your family, with your friends in your work. So, find joy. Stick to that grit of getting things done right, and then grace. Grace for yourself. Grace for others. The road is not a straight path; it's going to have many bumps, many turns, many pitfalls, so give yourself the grace to know that you're always going to be doing the best that you can to get yourself where you want to be."
While the school isn't yet ready to share the total value of scholarships and bursaries, Karatchuk pointed to the strength of local support.
“The awards come from our community, and our local businesses are incredibly generous. One special award is the Albert Dicky Award, which recognizes a student who’s shown great resilience. It's always very meaningful to our staff and students.”
As the Class of 2025 prepares to walk the stage, there’s no doubt they’ll leave their mark.
Graduation celebrations are being planned for Wednesday, June 25, starting at 1 pm at the St. Malo Catholic Church, with the grad banquet to follow at the Rosa Hall at 5 pm.
École Heritage Immersion in St Pierre-Jolys is part of the Red River Valley School Division.