McDonough seniors visit local elementary, middle school
‘Parade of Success’ intended to inspire younger students
Maurice J. McDonough High School seniors took a “victory lap” Monday, visiting students at nearby Matthew Henson Middle School and Dr. James Craik Elementary School to show students at those two schools what awaits them in the future.
High school seniors, adorned in their caps and gowns and accompanied by “Rammy” the ram, McDonough’s mascot, visited Matthew Henson Middle School early Tuesday morning, greeting and high-fiving students in the
hallway as they made a circuit of the school.
They then travelled to Craik Elementary and walked through the school, accepting welcomes, thumbs-up and handmade signs from the elementary students.
School board member Barbara Palko said the Parade of Success, as it is called, began last year with Thomas Stone High School making visits to neighboring schools.
“I think it’s an awesome idea to for them to have this way to celebrate 13 years of school, plus it’s an inspiration for the younger students,” Palko said.
For McDonough senior Tyranny Royster, 17, it was also a trip down memory lane, as she attended Craik as an elementary school student.
“When I walked in there, it felt like nothing had really changed. It felt good to be back,” Royster said. “It was great, seeing all the teachers and all the little students. We were pretty much celebrities to them, and that felt really good.”
Fellow senior Malik Downey, 17, said it was an odd experience visiting the school.
“It was surreal. It felt like I was just there, in their place. Twelve years went by really fast, really, really fast,” Downey said.
Graduation ceremonies for Charles County students begin Thursday evening. McDonough holds its graduation ceremonies next Friday, June 3, at 7 p.m.