{"id":2497,"date":"2022-06-22T15:31:20","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T15:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/ontario\/graduates-finish-high-school-at-grace-haven-through-hard-work-and-dedication\/"},"modified":"2025-05-28T08:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T08:59:22","slug":"graduates-finish-high-school-at-grace-haven-through-hard-work-and-dedication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/ontario\/2022\/06\/graduates-finish-high-school-at-grace-haven-through-hard-work-and-dedication\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduates Finish High School at Grace Haven Through Hard Work and Dedication"},"content":{"rendered":"

A diploma is more than a piece of paper for 11 recent high school graduates at Grace Haven in Hamilton. For these students, their past experiences made them into who they are as they work to create a stable and secure life for their children and themselves.<\/p>\n

Grace Haven educates parenting teen women and men, while providing free child minding for program participants, allowing them to focus on completing their high school education. These latest graduates met and exceeded their educational goals through hard work, determination, and dedication.<\/p>\n

The pandemic cancelled the last two ceremonies, so the 2022 edition was a special event for the graduates, their children, family, and friends. Grace Haven\u2019s latest high school graduates are Jessica Murray, Lexi Utman, Faith Fannon, LaKeysha Jones, Mercedesz Lepenye, Desiree O\u2019Neil Rago, Jade Binder, Andromeda Cieplucha-Cheeseman, Keira Jensen, Grace Spencer and Jaylyn Tamosiunas.<\/p>\n

Class valedictorian Grace Spencer also took home the Elisabeth Henderson award, the Sloan Bursary and Triple \u2018A\u2019 award, rewarding recipients for attendance, attitude, and academics. Chyra Frayner, Mekayla Storey and Jaylyn Tamosiunas also received the Triple \u2018A\u2019.<\/p>\n

Grace Spencer started at Grace Haven two years and is the proud mother of two-year-old daughter Rosalie.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got pregnant when I was 16 and I was so sick that I needed a school that could provide the care and assistance I needed as a young mom. Knowing my daughter was being taken care of at Grace Haven allowed me to focus on my education,\u201d Grace said.<\/p>\n

In partnership with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Grace Haven has three on-site classrooms for three teachers, who provide full time high school instruction to students.<\/p>\n

Grace says teacher Allison Cillis provided her the confidence and stability needed to create a positive path forward for her and Rosalie. Grace has been accepted into Mohawk College\u2019s three-year Child and Youth Care program. Even with the added challenge of being a mom, Grace says she never doubted her abilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not worried. I knew that I had the dedication to get through it and I am graduating with the rest of my class. I just knew, I had to find the right people to support me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graduate Jaylyn Tamosiunas also intends to apply to Mohawk College in the Early Childhood Education program. \u201cI doubt that I would have graduated without the support of the teachers and staff at Grace Haven. Thank you for all that you have done to assist me over the past year,\u201d Jaylyn said.<\/p>\n

Grace Haven\u2019s Young Parent Team works with male and female participants to provide supportive counselling, coaching and navigation in areas of life management, personal development and wellness, goal setting, infant care and parenting, meal preparation and making healthy and nutritious food choices. An infant therapist is also available to provide support to parents and children.<\/p>\n