It was a full circle moment for graduates of the Aboriginal Head Start program in Courtenay, as some of the students from the 2011 class officially graduated high school.

One of the parents - Patty Sinclair - presented an idea to the parents of the students with whom she has kept in touch with throughout elementary and high school years to hold a reunion to recreate a class picture outside the Bighouse at the K'omoks First Nation. 

On June 23, many of the students gathered - some of whom came from Campbell River and Denman Island to reunite with their classmates.

The overall goal of the Comox Valley Aboriginal Head Start program is to foster the early childhood development of Aboriginal children in conjunction with plans and methods designed by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people.

See the before and after photos of the students above.