Carol Logue, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher, said that while she was teaching a student from Russia, the student told Logue about a celebration at her old school.

The student had previously attended a K-12 school, and on the last day of school, seniors would gather in the gym while the kindergarteners would run around them, ringing the final bell for the seniors. After that, they would have a town parade.

“I thought to myself, ‘well, I can’t pull off a parade, but I can certainly pull off kindergarteners ringing bells,’” Logue said.

From 1997 on, kindergarteners are brought in from all of MHS’ feeder elementary schools to take part in this tradition. This year, 14 kindergarteners were chosen by their principals or kindergarten teachers to participate in this event, Logue said.

The group of kindergarteners in this event are the Class of 2037, and Logue said that the kids were excited to be there while the seniors typically feel a deeper meaning to the tradition.

“It symbolizes, ‘hey, we finished K-12 and we’re starting a new life’,” Logue said. “It’s their final bell.”

Maya, who attends Ellisville Elementary, said some of her babysitters are seniors at MHS. Maya said she was most excited to ring the bells.

Adler, a student at Ridge Meadows, said she was most excited to be in the crowd and to support her neighbor, Nick Kowolski.

While the kindergarteners were ringing the bells, Malik Johnson, senior, said he got emotional as he remembered when he was younger and would watch the seniors walk through the hallways at his elementary school.

“It symbolizes our final ride. This is the last time we’ll hear the bell,” Johnson said.

Binu Jayapradhaban, senior, started to tear up when the bells rang as to her it stood for new beginnings.

“It’s our very last bell, but then at the same time, it’s the bell that also starts the rest of our life,” Jayapradhaban said.