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PHILIPSBURG:--- The IB Diploma Class of 2016's CAS Presentation and Pinning Ceremony marked the end of their two-year journey to discover the answer to the question: "What can I be?” On Friday, April 15, the Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs, The Catholic School Board, The Department of Inspection, School Manager Ms. Gianne Wilson-DeWeever, representatives of several NGO's, community stakeholders, parents, and teachers were part of this celebratory event.

The program opened with the students highlighting the skills and experiences they cultivated by engaging in the Creativity, Action and Service component of their academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme. Students demonstrated their learning outcomes for Creativity by highlighting their involvement in activities like Moot Court, Teachers' Appreciation Day and painting lessons. Activities such as diving with the Alfredo Foundation, calisthenics after school and sailing with Kids at Sea gave students the opportunity to develop the Action component. The last component of CAS - Service - had students engaged in the Red Cross, the Classical Delights Foundation and the SKOS After School Program. The recurring comment made by the students was "I never imagined I would be doing these activities and how much I learned about myself, my classmates and my community."

The second part of the program, the Pinning Ceremony, was explained by Ms. Marie Richardson, the Diploma Programme Coordinator: "Similar to the topping-out ceremony when a tree or flag marks the raising of a building's highest beam to signify that a construction project has reached its literal apogee, its most auspicious point, this pinning ceremony signifies the topping point of the IB students' learning experience at St. Dominic High School". Each student received a silver pin with the IB logo. Since students did not complete this journey alone, they were pinned by someone who guided and supported them. So students were pinned by their parents, grandparents, friends, a sibling, or a mentor. One student Pooja Sadarangani was awarded the gold IB pin to recognize her perseverance and motivation to embody the traits of the IB Learner Profile. All IB learners strive to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Courageous, Caring, Balanced, and Reflective. The evening closed with final words from an IB parent, Mrs. Beverly Brunings who emphasized the important role that parents have to play to ensure the success of their child in the IB Programme.