Salmon River seniors parade around school in decades-long tradition

For as long as anyone can remember, high school seniors at Salmon River Central have taken part in a tradition of having a car parade around the school.

Ten years ago the seniors did this on the last day of school, coming to school in the nicest car they could find or the least appealing. The students would meet off campus and then go to the school driving around it several times while blaring on their horns. Students and teachers would come to the windows and watch the seniors as they made their last mark on the school.

Over the years, school officials took over the planning of the event and it became a more formal and organized parade, with rules and a schedule, and the day for the parade this year was last week, two weeks before school let out. Still, the spirit remains the same as the school watches the seniors celebrate their last days of high school.

The students met at the arena with trucks and Rangers and an all-out water balloon fight ensued with most of the seniors getting soaked with water. Principal John Simons stood with the students letting them know what the procedures were for the parade but he spent most of his time dodging water balloons as well, much to the delight of the students and other faculty members watching.

The parade was also a milestone for Mr. Simons as he is retiring this year.