Added on June 4, 2018 Sara Swanson

MHS Seniors parade through Klager in caps & gowns

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Although this is the second year for this new tradition, it is the first year that all the students are wearing maroon caps and gowns for graduation instead of the boys wearing maroon and the girls wearing gold. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Jones.

In an effort to both remember how far they’ve come and to impress upon the younger students that graduation is a goal worth working for, the Manchester High School graduating class of 2018 put on their caps and gowns on May 25th and marched through the halls of Klager Elementary School.

Manchester High School guidance counselor Hollie Kolcz I stated, “The seniors were so excited to go back and pay tribute to their former teachers and to be an inspiration to the students at Klager. The joy in each of their their faces, as they were cheered and congratulated, was priceless.”

It is not only the students who are affected by the event, but the teachers as well. Klager second-grade teacher, Heather Stommen, explained what it meant to her. “The senior walkthrough means so much to me, personally. Seeing my former 2nd graders all grown up, wearing caps and gowns, knowing that they’ve experienced both challenges and successes- along with stress, fears, worry- built friendships that may just become memories or sustain them for a lifetime- fills me with such hope. The hugs from former students mean more than I can express.

”From the moment they enter my life as second graders in my class, they’re ‘mine’ for a lifetime. I imagine they can’t remember much about second grade, yet I hope they remember how much I cared for them and still believe in them.”

This year, when she returned inside the classroom after the seniors passed through the hall, her current class saw the tears in her eyes. She stated, “They saw how how moved I was to see my grown-up friends reach such a grand accomplishment. When they asked why I was crying, of course I told him I was so proud and happy for these graduates. I told them they wouldn’t believe it but before I could blink they would be walking through Klager doing the very same thing. I sincerely hope they each reach the same goal, because gaining their degrees and sharing in the celebration of the hard work is not easy but so very important. I shared with my current 2nd graders that besides love … one of the greatest powers we can have to effect positive change is through education, and that education is a privilege and crucial to a life of purpose and happiness. I was moved; they cheered, and we all enjoyed a moment of greatness that afternoon!”