TURNERS FALLS — As the senior class from Turners Falls High School walked through the hallways of Sheffield Elementary, teachers teared up and hugged former students as those getting ready to graduate got one final send-off from the district.
The stop at Sheffield was one in the senior class’s “clap out,” where the graduating class — in their caps and gowns — travels to the other areas in the district, and students and teachers in those schools line the hallways and cheer, clap and give high-fives
The activity serves as a way to inspire the younger students, while allowing the graduating seniors to say goodbye to the former teachers and schools they attended in a fun and upbeat way.
“The little kids get so excited to see the seniors in their caps and gowns, and treat them like rock stars,” Jessica Vachula-Curtis, a teacher at Turners Falls and an adviser for the class of 2017, said. “It’s especially moving for younger siblings and cousins to see their soon-to-be graduates. I think the aspect of this event that I love so much is that it is a way of connecting all of the schools in our district together.”
Jen Audley, the manager of the Gill-Montague Community School Partnership, said this is the second year for the tradition.
“The idea for this activity came from a school in Van, Texas, whose photos of their first time doing it went viral earlier this May,” she said. “When we shared the post on our Facebook page, it got a hugely positive ‘we should do that here!’ response from the community.”
The students started at the adjoining Great Falls Middle School and traveled by bus to Hillcrest, Sheffield, Gill and Erving elementary schools on Thursday morning. They were led by class president Riley Wood.
Senior awards were Thursday night and the school’s graduation will be Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.
Reach Miranda Davis at 413-772-0261, ext. 280 or mdavis@recorder.com.