High schoolers and community leaders lined up outside Clear Creek Middle School to high-five and cheer on students as they hopped off the bus.
It was part of a new initiative this year called High-Five Friday, an effort to encourage and pump up students before a day of learning.
“This is a new idea that we came up with to try to engage the community and bring them into the school, to brighten the kids’ day with an early morning welcome,” Principal Sarah West said.
Members from the Lead Gilmer student organization, Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education greeted the students on Valentine’s Day with cheerful “good mornings,” high-fives and fist bumps.
Welcome Center manager Catherine Weis said, “I know it’s early and everything, but [the students] are all so positive and smiley, and that is a good way to start your morning, even when it’s cold.”
“I’m excited to be here to pump up middle schoolers because it’s good encouragement, especially on a Friday right before we’re about to be out for a couple days,” senior Logan Mashburn voiced.
When asked how the grand entrance made him feel, 6th grader Jefry Loarca Aguilar expressed, “I feel confident in myself” and ready to take on the weekend.
“I went to school here and used to be just like them, so it’s fun getting to come back and show them what high school is like and that there’s so much more than just this,” sophomore Adleigh Wingate shared.
Clear Creek Middle’s goal is to do High-Five Friday once a quarter, where they will invite high schoolers, community leaders and first responders to give their students an exciting welcome.