WEDNESDAY MORNING: STUDENTS READY FOR THE ROAD IN 2022

Ready for the Road 2022

9th Annual Walk With Excellence Celebration 

By Stephen Weir

2019  walk photograph by weir

For all the Grade 12 students in the Jane Finch corridor’s four High Schools who have successfully completed their final year it is almost, and we stress the word almost, all over. The last “No more pencils, no more books no more teachers’ dirty looks” have been sung, it is now time for 500 teenagers to end their high school days by dancing in the street.

 

Get on your walking shoes kids, a 9-year tradition is about to start a new.  Postponed for two June years in a row because of the Covid shutdown, the Walk With Excellence Celebration will once again hit Sentinel Rd the morning June 8^th to introduce the new grads to nearby York University and their next level of higher education.

 

All are welcomed to celebrate this year’s graduates from the four high schools: CW Jeffreys, Westview, Emery and Downsview High. All four institutions are within walking distance of York University (north of Finch Avenue and Sentinel Rd.),

 

“The event begins at 10 AM inside CW Jeffreys with a kick-off of student presentations on school auditorium,” organizer Itah Sadu explained to the Caribbean Camera.” Following this is the 5km graduating parade of approximately 500 students to York University where a celebratory lunch and student awards will be shared.” 

 

The Celebration March begins at 11am. The teenagers will carry school banners and signs will head up the street to York.  Making sure the graduating students arrive safely CUPE 4400 union members and volunteers from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival will act as parade marshals along Sentinel Road.

 

Once at York the students will gather in a courtyard and listen to live music and listen to brief speeches from organizer Itah Sadu and senior officials of the university.

After all the formal speeches have been given and  student friendly meals are served there will be Caribbean music in the air. “We are also pleased to welcome Pannist Earl La Pierre Jr with his vivacious musical energy to the celebrations,” said Itah Sadu.

The point of the annual parade is to mark the graduation of the students and to encourage them not to end their studies after Grade 12.  Many of the students have probably never toured York – this event will give them that opportunity.

The Walk With Excellence was started by Itah Sadu and the  Blackhurst Cultural Centre (Formerly A Different Booklist Cultural Centre). 

witness a rite of passage - Walk With Excellence - June 13th. Toronto.

MEDIA ALERT

UPDATE:  The parade went without a hitch. 600 Grade 12 students took part in the Walk of Excellence. Below are two pictures from the parade. If you would like more information and/or pictures, drop me a note at stephen@stephenweir.com

 

Itah Sadu lead the parade on Friday!

Welcome to walkers from University of York students June 13, 2014

WALK WITH EXCELLENCE

Educational Attainment West, The Toronto District School Board, The York Centre For Education and Community and four high schools will be on the road Friday June 13th, 2014 taking a Walk of Excellence to York University

Students graduating from C. W. Jefferys, Westview Centennial, Downsview Secondary and Emery Collegiate, will be taking a “Walk of Excellence” to York University. Sponsored by Educational Attainment West, (a Youth Challenge Fund initiative), the York Centre For Education and Community, the Toronto District School Board, and local community agencies, this second annual parade will celebrate the passage of age from high school to post secondary education for local youth. The Walk is a public demonstration of student achievement. A group of Caribbean Carnival Parade Marshals and CUPE Marshals will be volunteering their help and guiding over 600 students along their way.

FRIDAY JUNE 13, 2014 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 13, 2014 (Toronto) – The media is invited to witness the Second Annual Walk of Excellence. The parade brings together students, community agencies, the school community, to walk, gather and witness a rite of passage as students take a symbolic walk to York University and begin the post-secondary phase of their lives.  The students will walk from the C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute at 340 Sentinel Road (near Keele & Finch) to Osgoode Hall Law School, Ignat Kaneff Building, York University. At Osgoode, students will be taking part in an award ceremony and reception. Toronto's Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke will be in attendance to deliver a poem written for the students and the event.

What: Friday parade from C. W. Jefferys High School to York University of 600 high school graduates from 4 west-end Toronto schools

Why: Public demonstration of student academic achievement in the Jane and Finch community

Who: Students. Parents. Teachers. Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke. Media Supporters. Volunteers from the annual Caribbean Carnival Parade and CUPE 4400

Best Photo Op: Rain or Shine. The parade will travel north along Sentinel Road from the high school to the university. It is expected to take 40-minutes. Best visuals at Sentinel and Finch Avenue West and at The Greens (outside of Osgoode Hall). Students have been issued photo waivers.

When: 10:00 a.m. Assembly at C.W Jefferys School

10:30 a.m. Expected start of parade along Sentinel Rd to York University 

            11:30 a.m. Reception at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

Parade Contacts:  Itah Sadu 647 521 7874 or itahsadu@rogers.com & Shannon Ashman 647 880 3072 or shannonashman@gmail.com