City parade honors Atlanta seniors
ATLANTA, Texas — Bells, horns, flags and especially decorated cars celebrated Atlanta High School seniors earlier this month with the Swag in a Bag Parade.
“Maybe a mile of cars,” is the way Atlanta Fire Chief Robin Betts described the long line of cars that stretched from Atlanta’s business district out to the high school.
Most seniors sat on the roofs of their cars and trucks like royalty and everyone seemed more than eager to shout and wave. Smiles were big and real.
Students, families and relatives were, indeed, happy. It was the first time in a long while that students came together at the school campus since closure over the COVID19 crisis.
The parade seemed especially appropriate because for many students, they and their cars are almost one and the same. Many parade entrants had gone to some effort to decorate and some of their messages were quite creative.
Everyone enjoys a parade. Some folks get to sit up high and get carried in front others who are happy to be spectators.
From the sidelines, teachers and staff rushed out from their tables to hand a bag of gifts and notes of appreciation to each senior.
One of the best parts of this parade was the appearance of every senior’s picture and name on banners posted on the school grounds. The idea had been the suggestion of Superintendent Sidney Harrist and the AISD school board.
Following the parade, everyone went home. That was it. No congregating.
Activities for seniors at Atlanta High each year are undertaken by a Senior Parents group in cooperation with the senior sponsor, who this year is Becky McCord. These leaders handle the prom and other special events for seniors.
The next time the seniors will gather is for the recently scheduled graduation ceremony at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29, at Rabbit Stadium. Preparations such as special seating and tickets are being worked out by the district.