By Janet Tapia, Shenandoah resident

 

In Conroe ISD there is a tradition for graduating seniors to “clap out,” where the students walk out of school escorted by the principal. It is meant to remind us parents of the time we dropped them off at school on the first day of kindergarten and symbolize the school is now handing them back to us as graduating seniors. After that, seniors sign up to visit prior elementary and junior high schools they attended, wearing their caps and gowns. 

 

When my daughter and I arrived at the elementary school, the “clap out” continued with the young students standing in the hallway giving us high fives and cheering. My daughter said, “everything is so small!”  I had to remind her how she was so small when she was there.

 

Later we went to the junior high where many of the teachers were excited to see their former students return. I heard them say how proud they were that these students were graduating. Everyone had so much fun remembering, there were lots of hugs and my daughter said she didn’t want the day to end.  

 

On May 18 the graduating class of 2023 will walk across the stage at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at their official ceremony to the cheers of hundreds of proud family members and friends. I thank CISD for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the next chapter will be.

 

The Sentinel congratulates all Shenandoah graduates!