East seniors walk back in time, reach out to future

The seniors at Cranston High School East weren’t quite sure why they had been gathered for an assembly on Monday morning, May 15.

They sat, waiting and listening, as they held their graduation caps and gowns still in plastic covering, on their laps. Information was passed along about yearbooks and the supplements to them, and about how to properly care for their caps and gowns. The video screen on the stage was open in front of them, illuminated with lights, and showing the Cranston East logo.

Andrea DiCicco, class advisor for the seniors, came to the microphone. She welcomed the students to another assembly, noting that they have made themselves known as a class over the past four years, for the legacies they are leaving behind.

“Every assembly you’re told that you’re the best. You’ve made historic feats that no other class has made, and you should be proud,” she said. “Today, we’re going to continue with tradition. Bolts pride, the ‘T’ stands for tradition. So I am honored to let you know, the class of 2017, that you will be the first class from Cranston Public Schools, to do this.”

She gestured to the screen behind her, where a video began to play of another senior class somewhere in the country, dressed in their caps and gowns, taking a Senior Walk back to their elementary schools where they greeted the staff and students there one last time before graduating. The students in the auditorium at Cranston East clapped and cheered.

“The buses are outside, the elementary school kids are waiting for you,” she said as the students’ excitement levels rose.

Meanwhile, across the district, elementary students in nine schools were putting the finishing touches on posters, banners and signs, getting ready to line their hallways, waiting to welcome the seniors back to class one final time.

DiCicco told the students that this was a secret that had been kept until just that very moment, with a great deal of preparation having taken place throughout most of the school year as the high school coordinated a plan with the nine elementary schools which serve as feeder schools to Cranston East. Buses were waiting to take groups of students on three separate trips to three sets of elementary schools: to Gladstone, Arlington and Stadium, to Barrows, Rhodes and Edgewood, and to Eden Park, Dutemple and Waterman. She thanked the administrators and Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse for their cooperation and support.

“You will go to three different elementary schools. When you arrive, the principal of the school will make an announcement to the students of their school. As you walk through those hallways those kids will be looking to you as their role models,” she said. “At the end of the walk you are going to come face to face with the kindergarten students, and it’s up to you to give them some words of wisdom, to tell them what they have to do to get to where you are. They are at the beginning of the journey and you are at the end.”

She showed the students a T-shirt designed by Brian Zhen, which Superintendent Nota-Masse brought through the auditorium for all to see, and she announced that every kindergarten student would be receiving a shirt as a gift from the seniors. Again, the students cheered and the excitement in the room was palpable.

Principal Sean Kelly spoke to the students after DiCicco.

“This is a fantastic event. I emailed all of your parents this morning to let them know that this was going to be happening today. Part of my email said that this class has been trailblazers in terms of what you have done in this building and the legacy that you’re leaving this on this building,” he said. “Free prom, you’ve got academics, athletics, band, JROTC. When you guys started in JROTC, we were kind of teetering a little bit, and now you’re the best JROTC program in the country. This class is leaving a legacy on the building. Since you’ve been here as freshmen, this class has been noticed.”

Superintendent Nota-Masse took a minute to speak to the class next.

“The reason that we are doing this today is because Ms. DiCicco and Mr. Kelly are your biggest fans,” she said. “You’re an extraordinary group of young people. I am very proud of all of you. This is something extraordinary that you are doing for Cranston East, for Cranston Public Schools and for all of the little kids that are looking up to you. You may not realize it, but they do. Younger brothers and sisters, kids in your neighborhood, they look at you and they know that if they do the right thing, they too will be in these awesome white and green caps and gowns, walking across the stage, and I personally am very proud of you.”

The students completed their journeys during the first portion of the day and were received with cheers, applause, and high fives around every corner, and returned to school just before noon. PHOTOS AND CUTLINES

From Waterman Elementary

The graduating classes of Waterman Elementary School: The graduating class from Cranston East 2017 poses with the graduating class of 2029 at Waterman. (Herald photos by Jen Cowart)

A special moment between sisters: Ella Caldarone, a graduating senior from Cranston High School East takes a moment with her kindergarten sister, Eva Caldarone during the excitement of the senior walk at Waterman Elementary School. A hug for a favorite school nurse: Donna Durigan, school nurse, gets hugs from former students as they walk by.

High Fives all around: The students lined the hallways to give high fives to the seniors as they walked by.

From Dutemple Elementary

Wise words of advice: The seniors were asked to give the kindergarten students at Dutemple Elementary School some words of advice before leaving. Several seniors stepped forward to remind them to work hard and to go to school every day, even on the days when they might not want to, in order to be successful.

Shirts for everyone: The seniors from East help to pass out the special shirts to the kindergarten students at Dutemple school, helping the students to put them on when needed. The shirts were specially designed for the event by a student at Cranston High School East.

Welcome back to Dutemple Elementary School: Principal Kim Magnelli greeted the school buses of students and welcomed them back to the school.

Signs of excitement: Students could be seen lining the hallways at Dutemple School, holding up signs and banners, and giving an enthusiastic thumbs up.

From Eden Park Elementary

One last photo before we go: Students who formerly attended Eden Park Elementary School take one last moment to snap a photo on the stairs with a favorite teacher from their elementary years, before boarding the bus.

Applause, hugs and high fives: Eden Park staff and students welcomed the seniors back to the school with a warm round of applause, hugs and high fives as they walked the hallways.

We used to walk these very halls: Smiles were big as students journeyed back down the hallways they once walked as elementary school students.

Good Luck to the Class of 2017: The kindergarten class of 2029 sits in front of the graduating seniors, the class of 2017. "Work hard, pay attention, and in 12 years, this will be you," said Principal Courtney Sevigny.