Senior Walk

 

Of all the traditions that came with senior year, the Senior Walk at Oak Ridge Elementary held the most meaning for us. The soon-to-be graduates returned to their elementary school for a morning where they were celebrated by the staff, students, and teachers of the place that shaped who they are today.

The day started with donuts in the high school parking lot, as seniors donned their cap and gowns for the first time. They boarded school busses that dropped them off at ORES, where they were welcomed with much fanfare:

"It's a great day to be a Viking!"

Makayla and Luke (NCRC teammates) are like sister and brother to each other

Luke and Deuce, his across-the-street neighbor and best friend

Another side by side comparison picture:

8th Grade Graduation & Senior Year

Georgia, Luke, and Madison all participated in the GAPP Exchange in Germany together and are good friends

Oak Ridge Elementary School will always hold a special place in our hearts. It's the reason we bought our home in this part of the school district. It's where we found our community, built lifelong friendships, and spent countless hours during our children's elementary years.

These parents have volunteered together, carpooled together, and lived by the saying, "There's always a mom watching," because we look out for one another's kids as if they were our own. We've celebrated milestones, weathered challenges, and navigated parenthood side by side.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, ORES became our village. Teachers and families brought us meals, cared for our family, and made sure L&L felt loved, supported, and cared for during one of the hardest seasons of our lives. 

This photo capture just a fraction of the parents who returned for the Senior Walk to cheer on our babies—now graduates. 

Every current ORES student lined the hallways with handmade signs, cheers, and excitement. As the seniors entered the building to the familiar strains of Pomp and Circumstance, they walked through each hallway: Dream (Kindergarten–1st), Believe (2nd–3rd), and Achieve (4th–5th). Along the way, they were greeted with high fives, hugs, and smiles (and happy/proud tears from the parents):

After the Senior Walk, the graduates visited with their former teachers and classrooms and found their handprint on the wall:

1st Grade Teacher (beginning of year): Mrs. Foster

2nd Grade: Mr. Cockman (absent)

3rd Grad teacher: Mrs. Price

4th Grade Teacher: Ms. Gsell

5th Grade Teacher: Ms. Boggess

Many of the teachers displayed photos of the graduating seniors from the year they were in their class:

Luke and Sawyer located themselves in Mrs. Price's 2017 photo (3rd grade)

Mrs. Francisco was the principal at ORES during these students' elementary years and later followed them to NWMS, where she served as their middle school principal as well. She has always had a special place in her heart for this class, and despite being retired, she came to celebrate their Senior Walk with them:

Mrs. Francisco (wearing white in the middle of the front row) with the Class of 2026

Summer before starting at ORES as a first grader

Luke with Dr. Muller, our beloved NWHS principal

ORES has a saying, "Once a Colt, Always a Colt". 

How we love these special Colts and give thanks for their wonderful beginnings!

Maycember

 

"Maycember" has arrived with gusto this year, and our calendar is packed with events and filled with ALL OF THE THINGS! This year, May seems even busier than usual with the final countdown toward graduation. However, we are grateful for this season of life and love it all (well, maybe not the 5 combined days of AP testing in May for L&L).

May kicked off with All-State Honor Band for Luke. His audition results placed him as the 1st Chair Tuba in North Carolina! What a pinnacle for him to finish his high school band career as the #1 tuba player in the state. We are bursting with pride and enjoyed attending the concert that these musicians performed at the conclusion of their three-day intensive clinic:

Mr. Brooks and Mr. Carillo (Luke's band directors)

NWHS also held its spring band concert in May and recognized all of the seniors in the band program:

Luke was presented with the coveted John Philip Sousa Band Award, which is the highest nationwide honor given to a high school band student. This award recognizes superior musicianship, leadership, character, and outstanding dedication to the school's music program. Band directors present this award to one graduating senior per school and the recipients are part of a nationwide registry which is a public record of their achievement. 

Luke also played a piece with a brass quintet during the concert, and as he waited for the other musicians to take their places, I glanced over at him on stage. Lots of emotions with this concert, as it marks the end of an era:

Empty Stage: Hearts full of memories

Final uniform turn-in

What an incredible gift this program has been for Luke and our family. My kids don't realize it now, but the fact that they played in the same class ensemble this year and shared a class in high school is unique and special. In a school of 2000+ students, these two shared a space and worked together each day in the top music program in the county. 

Rowing friends came to the concert to support their teammates.

NCRC Teammates

The Pep Band visited all of our feeder elementary schools to get the younger kids excited about the end of the school year. We love this morning each May, and it's so much fun to listen to the band plays stand tunes:

Back at Oak Ridge Elementary, where it all started.

Pivoting from music to sports, Luke had back-to-back travel regatta weekends in May, and we flew to Sarasota for Southeast Regional Championships. This was a great weekend of races, pool, & beach adventures with families and teammates. I'll include photos of this race in another post, but it was a special time with our boy:

 

The following weekend, Luke and I drove to Elizabeth City for Bugsy Beach Sprints. This was the perfect finale to the spring season, as it is a laid-back, fun-filled regatta. Luke's last race was in a mixed quad with the other NCRC Seniors, and it was emotional for the parents and rowers:

Last NCRC regatta with my boy.

NCRC Senior Mixed Quad.

Luke's double with Finn.

Priceless friendships and memories together

Cheering for each other.

Luke and Hagan: Best friends in kindergarten, and now all grown up!

David, Holden, and Luke: NWHS/NCRC boys.

The following evening, NCRC held its annual banquet to celebrate the season and honor the graduating seniors. During the event, each senior gave a speech reflecting on their experience, and Coach Scott shared personal memories and words of appreciation for each graduate before presenting them with a personalized NCRC oar blade:

The banquet concludes each year with the Last Launch, as underclassmen row the seniors out on the lake for the final time:

NCRC Seniors with Coach Scott

Luke was awarded a scholarship through the Mens' Group at our church and was recognized at Graduation Sunday. Congratulations to our seniors!

Luke and Reese: First Communion (5th grade) and Graduation Sunday

We also held a Senior Picnic for the Class of 2026, and it was a huge event for the 500+ graduates.

 These mamas are the best friends to work with, and we are a great team!

NWHS PTA Executive Board 2025-2027

The end of senior year = lots of photos being recreated from past days/years!

5th grade graduation party & Senior Picnic (same pose, but missing 2 moms!)

Senior Picnic

We took our "last day of school" photos at the end of May, as this was the last week that students are required to attend (with the exception of exams). What a sweet year it's been for L&L to be at the same school for the first time since Oak Ridge Elementary (2nd and 5th grade). Luke drove Leah to school each day, and their schedules synced so well with band and many of the same activities:

Last Day of Freshman Year!

Last Day of Senior Year!

Cheers to a May filled with BIG moments, full hearts, and memories that will last a lifetime!