They may be graduating next month year as Eagles, Bearcats, Falcons or Knights, but the 23 seniors sitting in Clear Creek Elementary’s auditorium Friday all started off as Clear Creek Cubs.
Led into the gym by “Cubby” the school’s mascot, Clear Creek’s Class of 2016 received a huge round of applause and standing ovation from wide-eyed elementary students and their former teachers – many of whom have since retired.
Walking up to Ansel Pace with her twin sister, North senior Lizzie O. said, “We don’t know if you remember us, but we remember you.”
“You’re the Osteen girls,” Pace said with a smile, as the sisters recalled the times the substitute teacher would play the piano for the school.
Barbara Stepp, retired Clear Creek kindergarten teacher, ran up to the seniors and gave them big hugs.
“This was the last class I taught here,” Stepp said. “I drove 54 miles just to be here for this.”
Larri R. and Patrick D. of North Henderson High caught up with their elementary school friend, Lindsey W., who is graduating from East Henderson High.
“These were like the three musketeers, right here,” Patrick’s mother said to their second grade teacher, Becky McCrary.
Larri reminisced about the annual second-grade Christmas play McCrary instituted while Larri, Patrick and Lindsey were in her 2005 class.
“We killed that gingerbread play,” she said.
A chance for the seniors to reconnect with their old school and teachers, Friday’s celebration also served as personal motivation to the pint-sized students in the room.
“Last year was our first graduating class who started here in kindergarten,” said Clear Creek Principal Marcie Wilson. She said she wanted to start a tradition of having each graduating class of Clear Creek alumni visit current elementary students to share words of encouragement and to provide positive role models to whom the current Cubs can connect.
“I think it’s important for or students to see themselves, years from now, graduating as well,” Wilson said.
– By Molly McGowan Gorsuch
Public Information Officer
