We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Blake Downs, Elizabeth Hodgson and Tyler Ortner, all graduating seniors at Chinook High, work on a section of the front sidewalk, at the school, where seniors will paint their names. The 'painting' tradition has been going since the late 1960's and was moved to its present location in the mid-1970's. Adding names to the sidewalk is a sort of a 'calling card' from the graduating class each year.
The 2016 graduating class at Chinook High continued a tradition that dates back to the late 1960's. Around 1968 or 1969 the graduating senior class painted a section of sidewalk, at the southwest corner of the school yard, to include the names of the current graduating class. It's a tradition that has continued as each class brings its own unique design and approach to create the final calling card from the graduating class.
Ken Schubert, who graduated in the late 1960's, said he believes the tradition of painting the sidewalk started either in 1968 or 1969. He added, "Originally the seniors painted a section of sidewalk at the southwest corner of the high school yard. Some of my brothers and I replaced that section of sidewalk about 15 years later. It was at that time the section to be painted moved to where it is now." For readers not familiar with the sidewalk painting, it's just in front of the main entrance on the west side of the high school building.
Jay Eslick, a former superintendent of Chinook Schools, said the tradition was going when he arrived in 1995. Ask about approvals for the painting, Eslick said, "The class would give some idea of what they wanted to do and we would usually approve it. It was never a big deal, just something the kids liked to do every year."
This year's design was explained by Elizabeth Hodgson, one of the painters the day the photo with the story was taken. She's graduating and served as the 2015-2016 Student Council President. She said, "The overall figure is a tree. Each senior will make their handprint, using paint, to represent a leaf on the tree. Then names will be added to each leaf/handprint."
So, a tradition continues. The "Journal" congratulates the graduating seniors at high schools across the nation. Enjoy your 'next step' and don't forget to keep those traditions going.
