Moving Up Ceremony: Senior Farewell
May 17, 2023
Written By: Adaley Heninger
The Moving-Up ceremony is an exciting yet touching moment for the ThunderRidge Grizzlies. As the Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshman pile into the auditorium, they carry a sense of excitement yet reverence. The teachers line up next to each other, forming a path from outside through the gauntlet. They guide their Senior students through the gym one last time. Though they may not be supporting them in their next school, they are supporting them through the Senior Grizzlies' final assembly. As the rest of the students stand, they clap and cheer for the seniors as they walk and say their goodbyes to the students and teachers. It warms hearts and brings tears to everyone’s eyes. The room is filled with emotion as they watch the Seniors leave. Several Seniors break away from the line of teachers to hug their underclassmen friends farewell. Though most Freshmen do not have ties with the Seniors they still feel a wave of sadness. As the last of the Seniors exit, the next sequence of the Moving Up ceremony commences.
Sully walks out onto the floor with a smile on his face. Though the Seniors just left, the rest of the school is excited about what is to come next. It was their time to move from the Junior spot on the bleachers into the Senior’s spot. They cheer and whoop as they climb across the bleachers to the new side. Excitement bubbles up from the Sophomore class as Sully turns to them next. Running across the gym to take the Junior's spot is always exciting for every Sophomore class finally becoming upperclassmen. Sully then gives the go-ahead and the Sophomores flood across the floor in a wave of cheers. Finally, Sully turns to the Freshmen. No longer the lowest class they rush across to fill the Sophomore spot. They laugh and climb giddily to the other side, no longer the underdogs of ThunderRidge.
Loud chatting resonates through the gym as Sully tries to quiet them. The last group to cross through is the incoming Freshman from Ranchview. To give them a warm welcome the Grizzlies go wild as several hundred new students run into the gym to take the spot of the new Freshman. Before ending the entertaining moment, Sully begins one of the chants to get the new Freshman acclimated to the new environment. Sully dances on the gym floor calling “Do it, do it, do it, don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop.” He repeats it a couple of times before pointing at the Freshman to continue. Quietly, they speak the chant and look a little shy before turning to the incoming Sophomores. They blow them out of the water as they go absolutely crazy. Then the Juniors scream and chant, the Seniors join in, then the staff, and then the entirety of ThunderRidge. A little shell shocked, the Freshman watch as several other chants are thrown at them and they become bolder joining in.
The Moving Up ceremony is always a great way to send the seniors off yet invite the new and incoming Freshmen. It creates a sense of unity within ThunderRidge. May the ThunderRidge Grizzlies always stand strong!
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