Yellowknife, N.W.T. – Friday night is the beginning of the final chapter for grade 12 students at St. Patrick High School.

Row upon row of chairs have been set up in the school's gymnasium in preparation for graduation ceremonies, which start at 9 p.m. with the grand march.

The 94 grads will be walking in pairs with an escort of their choosing to present themselves and taking a seat on the bleachers.

St. Pat's principal Colleen McDonald said there will be a round of toasts after that.

“Toasts to parents, toasts to students by staff and as that type of thing begins, there’s a little bit of a reception with finger food,” she said. “They then come back and the dance begins.”

Following that, there will be the dry grad party at the YK Arena and the name says it all as alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden.

No Catholic graduation ceremony would be complete without a mass and McDonald said that will take place Saturday afternoon at St. Patrick's Parish beginning at 11 a.m.

“It’s probably one of the most impressive masses that you’ll ever see,” she said. “The students are piped in and they plan and contribute to all parts of the mass.”

The diplomas will be officially handed out Saturday afternoon following the mass, but students will return to class on Monday morning to finish out the remaining two weeks of the school year.

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