Castle Pines seniors return to where it all began
Graduating Rock Canyon High School seniors returned to Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) to take part in a new tradition of walking the halls where their education first began. The students were applauded by the teachers at the school, many of whom instructed the graduating seniors.
By Carin R Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Julie Lamb and TTE
Wearing caps and gowns, the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) graduating class of 2019 had the honor of being the first class to make the inaugural “Senior Walk” through the halls of their respective elementary schools.
“I am so excited to see our new tradition of graduates walking their childhood hallways and reliving their earliest school memories take off, said Andy Abner, RCHS principal. “This tradition shows the importance our entire community plays in raising up sturdy human beings ready to conquer what lies ahead of them. Words could never describe the feeling you get when you see these graduates hug their teachers, thank them and then walk through the halls and give all of those future Jags a big high-five.”
Patti Hickey, a parent at RCHS and a member of the School Accountability Committee was inspired by a news story that aired on ABC. A high school in Texas decided to have the graduating seniors, dressed in caps and gowns, return to their elementary schools and walk through the hallways. The intent was to show the students in the younger classes the fruits of the seniors’ labors, in addition to putting a face to the dream of going on to college.
Graduating Rock Canyon High School seniors returned to Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) as they finished out their last days of high school.
Hickey presented the idea to Abner, who loved it. It was then turned over to the RCHS Student Council. The arrangements were made to have each elementary school that sends students to Rock Canyon host a day in the spring for the graduating seniors to return.
The first year had a great turn-out of students returning to all the elementary and charter schools which feed into RCHS, including those in the Castle Pines community. The hope is to have the tradition grow, with more students making the trip back to their elementary schools each year.
The Rock Canyon graduating seniors gave high-fives to all the future Jaguars that lined the halls of BRE, the school where they once learned.
