High School Graduation

High school graduation is a celebration of your transition from a child to an adult.

In general terms, graduation is considered a rite of passage. A rite of passage is a ritual or ceremony that marks one stage of a your life to another. Baptisms, marriages, a retirement from a job or occupation, and funerals are other examples of rites of passage that are celebrated in our society.

But as time progresses, certain rites of passage undergo a transition and slowly fade into disuse. Religion plays a smaller role in our secular lives. Outside of a few religions such as Judaism, there are no events that mark the transition to adulthood. With the divorce rate at 50% in Canada, and the growing number of common-law relationships, marriage too is not seen as an enduring transition in your life. Finally, dramatic changes are occurring in the workplace. Fewer people spend their entire lives working for one company. A greater number of people work multiple part time jobs and fulfill temporary contract positions. With many continuing to work into their senior years, retirement is a rite of passage that is diminishing in significance.

But without a doubt, high school graduation remains an important rite of passage and its significance as a transition from child to adult is increasing. Without a high school diploma, the chance of obtaining satisfying and gainful employment is minimal.

But high school graduation is more than just a means of acquiring a better job. As a child in school, society has given you everything it can to protect you, guide you and help you find your way in the world. It is now hoped that you will reciprocate and give back to society. This is the transition that high school graduation celebrates.

Graduation at DHS

• The first graduation ceremonies as a high school occurred in 1937. Unfortunately, there is no written record of the events that transpired or of the names of the students who graduated.
• Click here to read the events that transpired at the school's second annual graduation exercises (1938).
• In 1939 the third graduation ceremonies are recorded in detail in the first issue of The Argosy. Those ceremonies will be detailed here.
• In addition, graduation/commencement exercises over the decades will be discussed
• Click here to read the details concerning graduation students refusing to participate in a school sponsored grad dinner

The following links below contain web pages that include diagrams of the dresses worn by graduating students as described in the 1939-1940 issue of The Argosy

The diagrams of the dresses worn were based on interpretations given by Mrs. Nel DePorto (a seamstress extraordinaire), Mrs. Betty (Brown) Hawke (editor of the 1939-1940 Argosy) and Ms. Johanna Minnder. All three individuals said that they had a lot of fun interpreting the 1939-1940 yearbook!