Whitesville Elementary School (WES) started a new tradition last year by inviting Daviess County High School Class of 2018 graduates back to their elementary school to visit teachers and staff in their cap and gowns prior to graduation.
WES Principal Dr. Tricia Murphy said, last year, the school decided to post the invitation for a week and about 40 kids come back to visit.
“Being a Leader in Me school, we talk about college and career readiness all the time,” said Murphy. “We wanted to expose our kids to those three components that we stand for and what our mission is all about family, leadership and excellence.”
This Wednesday, May 15 at 1 p.m., the Class of 2019 will be welcomed with a reception, cake and drinks and an introduction from Dr. Murphy. The chairs are arranged and the students are brought in similar to fifth-grade graduation. A few of the graduates are asked to share a few words with current students before all of the students are taken out into the hallway for a final walk to the song “Celebration.”
“For us, it’s just a nice little official final walk,” Murphy said. “Our teachers love to see our kids back and they love to come home. They’re seniors so they love to get back together and share memories because so many of them don’t have classes together anymore.”
Before leaving, the students are all given a gift that says, “My roots are at Whitesville,” to take with them to college, their career or wherever they are headed next.”
After WES published a Facebook post making students and parents aware of their senior celebration walk, other DCPS elementary schools began to follow suit, making it a DCPS tradition that appears to be gaining popularity.
East View Elementary School (EVES) Principal Sonya Simpson said she and the EVES staff are excited to share the accomplishments of this year’s graduates with their current students.
“This is our first year having former East View graduates return to their elementary school to walk the hallways in their cap and gowns,” Simpson said. “We believe this will be an inspiration for both graduating seniors and current East View students. We are so proud of their accomplishments and wish all of our former Shining Suns the best of luck in their next chapter of life.”
East View Elementary School will host a reception for 2019 graduates of Daviess County High School who attended EVES Wednesday, May 15 at 1:45 p.m. The event will begin with cookies and punch in the cafeteria. The seniors will then “walk the halls” once again as they model the importance of hard work and academic success for the children. The program will conclude with a “meet and greet” reception in the cafeteria in which the DCHS graduates will have the opportunity to take photos and thank EVES teachers and staff members.
Other DCPS elementary schools released the dates and times this week that they will be hosting their former students for their senior walks.
Meadow Lands Elementary School will welcome former students who are members of the Daviess County High School Class of 2019, Wednesday, May 15 at 1 p.m.
Deer Park Elementary School will host a “celebration walk” for former students who are graduating this year from Daviess County High School, Wednesday, May 15 at 2 p.m.
Tamarack Elementary School will welcome former students who are now graduating from Apollo High School, Thursday, May 16 at 9 a.m.
Southern Oaks Elementary School will host members of the Apollo High School Class of 2019 who attended SOES, Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Audubon Elementary School will host former students who are now graduating from Apollo High School, Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Sorgho Elementary School will welcome members of the Apollo High School Class of 2019, Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.
West Louisville Elementary School students will line the hallways and cheer as they host a “senior walk” honoring former students who are graduating from Apollo High School, Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. Members of the AHS Class of 2019 will have an opportunity to visit with their former teachers as part of this visit.
Burns Elementary School will host Apollo High School seniors on a celebratory walk-through, Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Burns Middle School will welcome former students who are now graduating from Apollo High School, Thursday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m.
College View Middle School will host former students who are graduating from Apollo High School, Thursday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Highland Elementary School will host a “senior celebration” for former students who are graduating this year from Daviess County High School, Friday, May 17 at 1 p.m.
Owensboro High School students took their senior walks through their former elementary and middle schools on Monday, May 13.
