From left, seniors Jocelyn Martin and Sophia Beckering lead the senior walk through Page Elementary
Photos by Dianne Carroll Burdick
Thornapple Kellogg — Teachers and their second- and third-grade students recently lined the main hallways of Lee Elementary school, eagerly awaiting a visit from the Thornapple Kellogg High School graduating seniors.
Some students had made hand-drawn signs for older siblings, while others could barely stand still in all the excitement.
A line of those in black caps and gowns soon filled the open space, and applause erupted for the class of 2022.
From left, seniors Lily Foy, Lane Kaminski and Alison Purdum walk the halls of their elementary school days before their graduation
After walking the halls of their former elementary school, the senior class of 2022 revisited their youth on the playground
Lee Elementary third-graders Annaisa Montano, left, and Gracelynn Gould celebrate the graduating seniors during their senior walk
The annual senior walk began at Thornapple Kellogg Middle School, then stopped at McFall, Lee and Page elementaries to walk the halls, greet former teachers and celebrate their achievement.
The parade ended at the high school, where seniors gathered for a sendoff lunch and to open time capsules they made in sixth grade.
The sealed envelopes contained letters from parents, goals written to their future selves, and class projects and assignments.
Senior Abby Marcukaitis opened her time capsule to find a sixth-grade class photo and “getting to know you” sheet she wrote about herself, her hobbies and her friends.
Thornapple Kellogg High School seniors walk the halls at Lee Elementary, cheered on by second- and third-graders
Abby’s mom, Kris Marcukaitis, also attended the walk to cheer on her daughter and watch her practice walking across the stage in front of her class. Abby’s twin brother will graduate from West Michigan Aviation Academy the same day and time, so Marcukaitis wanted to see both her kids walk.
“I’m really proud of these seniors,” Marcukaitis said. “They’ve endured a lot through the pandemic; they sacrificed things and toughed it out to get where they are now.”
From left, seniors Brian Jahnke and Logan Gorman walk through Lee Elementary, while senior Ronnie Simmons receives a hug from reading interventionist LuAnn Tandy
Seniors Paige Green, left, and Raven Bennett high-five Lee Elementary students during their senior walk
Senior Carson Woods gets a handshake from former teacher Brian Hanna during his senior walk at Lee Elementary
The Thornapple Kellogg High School senior class on the playground at Lee Elementary
From right, Page Elementary students Zach Dykhouse, Carter Send and Isaac Wade cheer for the senior class
From left, seniors Ashleigh Scholten, Faith Foster and Trenton Farrow walk the halls of Page Elementary as the students applaud
From left, Page Elementary students Mara Raak, Addilyn Mulder and Aubreyanna Calabrese high-five seniors as they exit the school
Thornapple Kellogg seniors finish their walk from Page Elementary and return to the high school
Senior Abby Marcukaitis opens her time capsule from sixth grade to find old photos, assignments and memories from middle school
Senior Abby Marcukaitis gets a hug and kiss from her mom, Kris Marcukaitis after Abby’s practice graduation walk
From left, seniors Owen Etterman, Cameron Fain, Brennan Kidder, Macon Hulbert and Noah Verstraete enjoy lunch and opening their time capsules from sixth grade
From left, seniors Kolton Buirley and Matthew Middleton compare photos of themselves from sixth grade
Alexis Stark is a reporter covering Byron Center, Caledonia, Godfrey-Lee, Kenowa Hills and Thornapple Kellogg. She grew up in metro Detroit and her journalism journey brought her west to Grand Rapids via Michigan State University where she covered features and campus news for The State News. She also co-authored three 100-question guides to increase understanding and awareness of various human identities, through the MSU School of Journalism. Following graduation, she worked as a beat reporter for The Ann Arbor News, covering stories on education, community, prison arts and poetry, before finding her calling in education reporting and landing at SNN. Alexis is also the author of a poetry chapbook, “Learning to Sleep in the Middle of the Bed.”
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, your School News Network team is re-publishing some early stories from each school district. This story, originally published in February 2015, talks to fathers who are discovering the ins and outs of public education thanks to the WATCH D.O.G.S. program.
