Night of a Thousand Stars

 

When you google “a night of a thousand stars” you get 3, 140, 000 hits in under .24 seconds. Top on the list is Madonna’s “Evita” – I could find the lyrics to that award winning movie and on YouTube, I could watch any one of over 76 videos by various recording artists singing that song.

  • On this night of a thousand stars  
  • Let me take you to heaven’s door
  • Where the music of love’s guitars
  • Plays forevermore!

Then there were dozens and dozens of celebrations naming their night “A Night of 1000 Stars” – the VGH (Vancouver General Hospital) holding a gala night as a fund raiser for UBC Hospital Foundation. Over in St. Louis there was another “Night of 1000 Stars” fund raiser for Multiple Sclerosis. And then another gala in San Antonio Texas for the United Way.

“A Night of a Thousand Stars” has a very popular ring to it. Tonight is our Night of ……… but why a 1000 stars you might ask, when before you we only have 90 stars. (grads)

But, have some imagination!! A theme of “A Night of 90 Stars” hardly has the same ring to it, so A Night of a 1000 Stars it is.

But let’s leave the 1000 aside for a bit and look at the “star” in the  phrase …What is a “star”?                    

Well, right off we think of our movie stars, our sports stars, famous singers and many other athletes from all the popular sports. They become our cultural “stars” and we often try to emulate them, their talent, their accomplishments and no doubt their incredible salaries. Yes they are our culture’s idols and the people we love to emulate.

But science also tells us a star is a massive luminous ball of plasma held together by gravity.

 Ah, we’re in school here, so a little science! The nearest star to our Earth is??? Anyone know? ……well it’s the Sun – the source of most of our energy on Earth.

But mostly, we think of stars as those tiny twinkling lights up in the dark sky at night, light years away from us grouped together into constellations. To this day, I love looking up into the night sky and searching for the Big  Dipper or the North Star. I look for shooting stars and dream about what life might be like way out there. I think that’s where the expression “Wish Upon a Star” comes from and wishing on a Star is like making Dreams come true.

So maybe tonight should be called “A Night of a Thousand Dreams” as each one of our 90 ‘stars’ set their minds on the future. What will it hold? What dreams do each one of you have which will shape your future? And tonight we WANT you to dream. Dream and dream BIG!

You are all ready for it now. You’ve been here in elementary school now for some 10 years – JK through to grade 8. In JK/SK your dreams were very personal – you wished it was your turn at the water play table or you could  hardly wait to go home. In other grades your dreams or wishes were about making that all important team, or finding and keeping that best friend.

Now – here right now – I’m sure all you want it to get out of grade 8 and  enjoy the summer. Yes …most of your teachers who have worked so hard throughout the year have that same wish or dream too. I know I do. I love summer. And well we should. We’ve worked hard all year.

But I trust that while you are enjoying your summer you also let yourself dream about what might come into your life as you head to secondary school. I trust your dreams take you back to school in September with the  excitement and vigor you will need to achieve academic success in whichever courses you’ve selected. Dream about and then get involved in school activities, the clubs, sports, singing groups as you achieve your best academic excellence.

And make those dreams even bigger as you prepare now for another graduation in 4 short years.

It will be here before you know it. Do you dream of college or university? Or do you dream of the workplace and some apprenticeship? All of those are worthwhile dreams – make them your own – live to achieve them.

Parents! Thank you all for coming tonight. Sometimes it’s hard to know if this night is for you or your child who is graduating from our elementary system into the secondary system. You’ve been there for them through each grade, each scraped knee, each tearful explanation of their terrible bad no good day and of course, their victories, their joys and their achievements. So for you it is also your Night of a Thousand Dreams!

 

Congratulations we are so very proud of you. Each and everyone of you. One dream has been realized. We know there will be many more to come, but congratulations on achieving this one – your successful Grade 8 Graduation.  (applause for our graduating class)

Thank you,
Mrs S. Bruyns
Principal, Wilfrid Jury P.S.