Highland Park ISD’s fourth graders accelerated toward new campuses in send-offs filled with smiles, music, bubbles, and balloons.
Elementary school grads caravaned through the Park Cities this May in golf carts and cars festooned with blue and gold decorations, along with photos of the excited students riding inside.
For students at Hyer Elementary, the May 20 caravan began at their school and ended at the Holmes Aquatic Center, where graduates celebrated the end of their careers as elementary schoolers with a pool party.
“The whole neighborhood really comes out and gets involved,” fourth-grade activities chair Kristin Evans said as she decorated the cart her son would share with friends. “The kids count down until they get to do this.”
The afternoon of the caravan, Hyer Elementary parents added the final bling to their vehicles at Smith Park while students finished the day at school. Then, fourth graders walked across the street with their teachers before racing to the cars.
By the time the fourth-grade grads were ready to go, it wasn’t just the cars that were prepared to set off in style.
The fourth graders donned hats, blue and gold necklaces, sunglasses, and leis. Many grads were ready to spread the fun to neighbors and younger students with bubble blowers, bags of candy, and water guns.
Fourth-grader Ethan Holter explained he was both sad to leave Hyer and ready for summer to begin.
“My favorite part about today is I get to go swim at the pool, and I get to throw candy at my friends,” he said.
The celebration at Hyer continued May 22 with a fourth-grade performance and family picnic complete with a DJ and Billy Buttons instant photos. Then, the entire school gathered to give the fourth graders a clap out, a celebration that spread to proud parents lining the sidewalk.
For Evans, excitement for the future was mixed with nostalgia and heartfelt goodbyes. This would be her last fourth-grade graduation. Her youngest child was moving on from Hyer.
“We’ve been at Hyer for nine years, and it’s definitely bittersweet,” she said. “It’s been just the best, best nine years at this sweet school.”
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