Senior Grad Walk ‘makes graduation real’ for young Everett students
Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 17, 2023
EVERETT — A student poked his head out of Mrs. Gerla’s second grade classroom Friday morning at Whittier Elementary School.
“Are they here yet?” he asked.
At the go-ahead of teachers, students filed out of their classrooms and their voices rose in excitement. Most wore school uniforms, but for others it was pajama day, and they lined the hallways in Batman, Pikachu and dinosaur-themed pajamas.
Outside, Everett High School seniors in blue robes and gold sashes waited in anticipation of Grad Walk, an annual tradition for Everett Public Schools. After an intercom announcement, the graduating seniors paraded the hallways of their past elementary school in cap and gown as staff and students cheered.
“We were waving streamers at them,” said Trenton Sankey, a 6-year-old in Mrs. Zacky’s kindergarten class.
As the students waved their streamers and pom-poms, seniors walked by and dished out high-fives.
“Many of them have never seen a real graduation, and to see the happiness, pride and excitement from seniors with their past teachers, it makes graduation real for them,” Shelley Boten, the district’s chief academic officer, said in a statement.
Grad Walk is also a way graduating seniors can connect with their former teachers to celebrate their achievement.
“It’s cool seeing all my teachers and all the places I have old memories,” 18-year-old senior Malachi Buckles said with his arm around Fin, his 7-year-old brother.
Fin said it was fun to see his older brother walk the halls, and he is excited to play baseball in high school.
“I play rookies,” he said, meaning in the Rookie Leagues.
Trenton said he likes school and wants to be a scientist one day.
“I’m going to go to college,” he said. “I could study dinosaur bones.”
Over 1,200 students will graduate from Everett Public Schools this month. Everett, Jackson and Cascade high school seniors will celebrate their graduation Saturday at the Angel of the Winds Arena.
“I am so proud of our graduates,” Superintendent Ian Saltzman said in a statement. “Not only have they been amazing students, but they will also be incredible leaders in our communities, and I love seeing our younger students look up to them at these Grad Walks.”
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the color of the robes as purple instead of blue.
Sydney Jackson: 425-339-3430; sydney.jackson@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @_sydneyajackson.
