The halls at Hampton Elementary were filled with cheers and more than a few tears on Wednesday morning as members of the Hampton High School Class of 2016 took part in a processional for the younger Bulldogs.
The soon-to-be graduates donned their caps and gowns a few days early in order to start a new tradition for both schools. As the parade moved through the halls the sounds of the traditional graduation song “Pomp and Circumstance” filtered through the school over the public address system and the younger students cheered, applauded and offered high fives and fist bumps to the seniors. And, of course, Jerry White’s “Hampton” was also heard throughout the school as the seniors marched.
Hampton High School Counselor Joanna Orr and Hampton Elementary School third grade teacher Renee Lewis coordinated the event for the two schools.
Orr said she decided to coordinate a senior walk through at the elementary after friends of her saw a posting on Facebook about a school system doing a similar event.
“I thought it would be a good idea to do it here so we worked together and made it happen,” Orr said.
The event is beneficial to both the seniors and the younger students as well, Orr said.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids to have a last walk through and say goodbye,” she said, adding it helps them to see that they are role models. “Some of them wore the t-shirts for their college of choice under their gowns and showed them off in a Superman-like pose for the other students. Hopefully they can encourage the younger students to achieve as much as they did and continue their education.”
“This group is definitely setting the bar high,” Orr added about the Class of 2016.
Lewis said she was excited to help when Orr contacted the elementary school about the event.
“I’ve been wanting to bring them back for a while,” she said of the seniors, many of whom she taught at Hampton Elementary. “Me and Kelly Collins, the first grade teacher, thought it would be nice to bring them back for one last snack with the younger grades.”
While the seniors didn’t get the opportunity to stop and snack with the students, Lewis said they still left a positive impression.
“We have a lot of high school kids that have made great accomplishments,” Lewis said. “They are good role models. It’s good for the lower grades to see them and look up to them.”
Many of the seniors were seen wiping away tears as they walked through the elementary school as were quite a few of the teachers, especially those who were watching their former students walk by in their caps and gowns.
“They were happy tears and I guess some anxious tears,” Orr said. “Some were tears of nostalgia and others anticipation for the future.”
The event was a success and something the schools look forward to doing again next year according to Hampton Elementary Principal Brandon Carpenter, who said the high school teams often come to the elementary school to celebrate athletic successes.
“We thought it would be a good thing to do for the academic side as well and show the students the importance of graduation,” he said. “This is the first time and we hope to make this an annual event.”