Arabelle’s celebration of life was held at the Art Hauser Centre. (Submitted/ Michelle Gola)

By paNOW Staff

Graduation questions

Carlton grad class rallies around former classmate

Feb 16, 2024 | 5:07 PM

Kenzie Dunn fondly recalls how much her friend looked forward to graduating, making sure everyone knew she was moving to New York with her dog.

Sadly those plans were brought to a halt when 16-year-old Arabelle Gola passed away last August. Dunn is now one of several members of this graduating class at Carlton Comprehensive High School, who want her to have a chair at the ceremony. But the school principal and administrator have both said no

“The school is robbing her, her family and her friends not letting us celebrate her on our graduation day and giving her the recognition she deserves,” Dunn said in a social media post.

Arabelle was passionate about volleyball, 80s music, and travelling. (Submitted)

Dunn explained this is not the first incident regarding celebrating Arabelle in the school this year and said requests to put up a picture on Gola’s birthday last December were also shot down.

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“Carlton, you are doing nothing but letting all of your students, their parents, Arabelle’s family and especially herself down. Do better. Let us graduate with our best friend, that’s all we ask.”

Two of Arabelle’s other best friends also said they still don’t understand why the school won’t recognize her and why every effort to honour her is being turned down.

“I find it so unfair because they’re pretty much just taking it away because she’s gone,” said Allie DesRoches, who along with her sister Billie shared some of their fondest memories of Arabelle.

According to the Sask. Rivers School Division, memorializing the loss of Arabelle during the graduation is not something the division feels is appropriate.

“Celebrations such as graduations are a community event and we do want to respect the spirit of that community celebration,” said Tom Michaud, superintendent of schools for the Division.

“We do understand that there will be individuals that are affected by the recent loss of a loved one, such the passing of a student or sometimes even a staff member.”

Michaud did however note that those who want to acknowledge a loss can reach out to staff to ask about ways to make that happen while still respecting the purpose of the graduation ceremony.

Michaud also explained the division is guided by research on trauma-informed practice how events impact the school community.

“What we want to do is make sure that those public ceremonies and public celebrations don’t include any elements that might be a traumatic stimuli for other participants,” he said.

But for Arabelle’s friends, they just want to include Arabelle in their celebrations on a day she should have been walking the stage with them.

“Just being with her and being able to spend time with her every day was so much fun and no matter what we did, we would have so much fun, no matter who we were with,” said Allie.

“Whenever I needed her, she’s always there for me,” added Billie. “She always had my back and we definitely really want to fight for her because we know she would do the same thing for us.”

Both girls said this is supposed to be the best year of their lives but having Arabelle gone and little support from the school for their memorial efforts has made the year 10 times harder.

“This is supposed to be the best year for us and not having her here definitely hurts us and so many others.”

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nigelmaxwell@pattisonmedia.com