Grandview Heights Secondary celebrates first graduating class

The inaugural graduate class of Grandview Heights Secondary. Photo submitted. A new class of graduates joins the district’s Class of 2023 following the completion of Grandview Heights Secondary’s first year of Grade 12 students.

The school opened its doors in September 2021 with only Grade 8-11 students, making this year the first the school has had Grade 12s.

Principal Darren Bedard said this year’s graduates had a greater responsibility than most in being tasked with not only setting a positive school culture for future grads, but having to do so during and after a pandemic.

“Our graduates have paved the way, overcome obstacles and proved they’re capable of achieving greatness,” he said. “As our first graduates, they are the pioneers that have shown what is achievable at Grandview Heights.” 

The class of 260 Grandview graduates joins the rest of the district’s 5,870 Grade 12 students in bidding farewell to the school year and closing a chapter of their lives that has been unlike any generations before them.

“On behalf of the Surrey Board of Education, I want to congratulate these graduates for making it through the other side of what’s been a very difficult few years,” said Gary Tymoschuk, vice-chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “These students spent the majority of their senior years adapting to the changing situation of the pandemic and it’s been truly inspiring to see them rise to challenge and overcome that adversity to cross the stage this year.

“Congratulations to our 2023 grads.”