We headed out to Hamilton on Sunday to move Gillian into her house for the upcoming school year. She is sharing a house with three other girls that she met last year in residence. It is about a 15 minute walk to campus. I took an early “first day of school” photo. Classes start on Thursday. She was accepted into her specialization stream of Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Afterwards we headed over to Andrew and Jeannette’s for dinner and to celebrate Grandma’s birthday.
Congratulations to Gillian on passing her G class driving test on the first try.
Gillian and I went to the advance poll this morning to cast our votes in the June 12th Ontario Election. I will be in the Northwest Territories that week and Gillian is not on the voter’s list, so it was better to get her on now rather than wait for election day. Here is Gillian after voting at the Returning Office.
We headed out to Dundas on the weekend to take Gillian out for dinner for her birthday. Afterwards we had cupcakes.
Chloe looking a lot better with her haircut.
The girls.
It was move in day for first year students, Gillian’s allocated time was between 12-4 pm. It’s a lot different than 28 years ago when Lori and Dale dropped me off on Labour Day monday. You drive right up to the residence, all the belongings have to be labelled with name, residence and room number. You get out and they have student reps carry everything up to your room. Gillian and Susan went to get her key while Angela and I parked the car. Angela wouldn’t get out of the car with all the crazy students swarming it. Gillian is in a double room in Brandon Hall, it was an all girl residence when I attended, but like almost all of the residences now, it is co-ed.
Gillian all unpacked, kind of, she’ll need to go through what we unpacked for her and sort it out for herself.
Her room is at the end of a corridor and has a view of the forest. The rooms have a wired internet jack, as well as wifi.
Angela planking on the roommates bed.
Gillian had her Grade 12 Graduation on Thursday June 27th.
They picked up their gowns a few days earlier.
Gillian from her first day of school back in 1999.
The girls.
Gillian and Marcus.
G-pa and G-ma with Gee.
Grandma and Papa with Gillian.
Mom, Dad and Gillian.
Susan and Gillian in September 1999.
Gillian and I.
The Tanabe’s.
Before the ceremony Gillian and her friends met out front for some photos.
Gillian and Sarah. They started in JK together.
Gillian and her friends trying to jump at the same time.
The Cob’s Crew, Gillian, Amanda and Hailey all work at Cob’s.
Brittany and Gillian.
Gillian with Veronica. Veronica is headed to McMaster in September with Gillian continuing their 14 years of education together.
The ceremony was held at the Hersey Centre in Mississauga. They used about three quarters of the ice rink/seating.
In total there were over 400 Grade 12 graduates.
Angela was playing in the band. The band played during the procession, recession and O’Canada.
The graduates.
Just after the introductions, the Mayor showed up, it was the first time in 26 years that she has come to the ceremony for Mount Carmel.
She gave a good speech to the grads.
Gillian waiting to receive her diploma.
There were a lot of kids to go through.
Congratulations to Gillian, she also received the Ontario Scholar award. Good job, you made Mom and Dad proud.
Today was Gillian’s Grade 12 Prom and her and Susan had a hectic day. Gillian looked great.
She had her hair done in the morning by their regular hairdresser.
Gillian and Marcus.
We did their photos at home before the Pre-prom.
There was a risk of thundershowers for the afternoon, but in the end they held long enough for the photos and getting them on the bus. It was a hot day.
Gillian and Sarah.
Susan and Gillian.
A bunch of her friends had rented a limo party bus and it was picking them up at her friend Amanda’s house. So her parents had everyone over before the bus to take photos and have drinks and snacks. Here are Emily, Amanda, Sarah and Gillian.
Gillian, Emily and Amanda are also in the same Ranger group.
Emily’s mom is the Ranger leader, so she wanted a picture of her girls, Allie and Brittany were also in her group this year.
The girls clowning around for the cameras.
A scene of the backyard .
This wasn’t even all of the kids going on the bus, as a few of them were late getting there and missed all the photos in the backyard. Tip: Clicking on the photos will enlarge them to view better.
Simon Says put your hand on your hips.
Simon Says turn around.
Simon Says Hold up your leg.
The boys out in front of the bus. Not sure why the guy in the middle is doing the face-palm.
The girls with the bus driver. He said it was his first time being asked to pose with clients.
More hamming in front of the bus.
We think this was everyone that was suppose to be there. It was too crowded to get in front for the picture so I held it above my head and snapped away.
Gillian, Veronica and Amanda.
Gillian, Sarah and Veronica, all St Richard students from JK up. Amanda photo bombing the shot.
Gillian has accepted her offer to McMaster’s Life Sciences program starting in September. Exciting times are ahead for her. Her next task is to submit her residence application.
After getting home late Friday from Chicago we headed out early for Hamilton and McMaster University. Saturday was their annual May @ MAC open house. Gillian wanted to visit again to see the Life Sciences and tour the residences again. We dropped Grandma and the girls off and then headed to campus with Gillian and her friend Veronica. Gillian wasn’t keen on Matthews Hall where I lived for two years. After 38 years they are renovating the outside of the building, the inside still looked the same.
Gillian has until June 3rd to make her final decision. Her friend Veronica was accepted to McMaster for Life Sciences and Nursing. If they both go to McMaster it would continue their 14 years of schooling together as they were both in the same junior kindergarten class.
After a few days of uncertainty, ROPSSAA finally made a descision and are allowing the St Michael Senior Girls curling team to compete at OFSAA. While it is good that the winning team is going, it was unfair to mislead the Mount Carmel girls and say that they may be going instead. Regardless it was still a great season for Gillian and her teammates.
This should also mean Angela’s final will go ahead as well.
