Seniors and kindergartners at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School began their journey through the 2015-2016 school year together Aug. 18 with an inaugural Senior/Kindergarten Tie Ceremony in the courtyard of the new Math, Science & Commons Building.
Head of School Paul Barton spoke briefly at the beginning of the ceremony, reminding students and how classes are enriched by each other. He thanked kindergartners, for example, for inspiring HIES with “their sense of wonder and curiosity,” and seniors for “the generous way you share your talents with all of us,” and for their leadership in the year to come.
“Today is a right of passage, the beginning of a journey,” he said.
The 128 members of the Class of 2016 were actually not seated at the beginning of the ceremony, but rather made a jubilant entrance by jogging into the Courtyard blowing whistles and air horns, and wearing floral Hawaiian shirts, class t-shirts, tropical headbands, hand-painted visors, straw hats, and crepe paper leis.
The 59 kindergartners were then called by name to come forward, one at a time, to present wide-striped, crimson-and-gold ties to seniors. And after the ceremony, a photo was taken of both classes together, to commemorate the special day.
“It was a good way to start the year,” said Elizabeth Kendrick, a senior and Governor’s Honors scholar. “We got to be in the presence of the entire high school and then meet the kindergartners, the ‘new people’ in this school.
“It was like opening a door.”
Contact:
Peggy Shaw
(404) 303-2150
peggy.shaw@hies.org
