The Hawthorne Elementary school community wanted to finish the school year the same way they welcomed students back to the buildings in September — with a parade.
On Thursday, teachers, administrators and staff marched through the Strawberry Farms and Minerva Park subdivisions where a majority of their students reside. Flanked by an ice cream truck, the Hawthorne team distributed toys, treats and ice cream to the dozens of parents and students lined along the sidewalks to greet them.
“We started the year with a blast being out in the community,” Principal Ernest Clinksdale said. “We’re going to end the year in a blast out in the community, showing how much we appreciate them.”
The parade is a continuation of what has become common practice at Hawthorne. Last year, the school hosted several community events including a block party at Strawberry Farms that attracted 800 families, a resource fair that connected parents to district and support services and a family fun night. The school also hosted a trip for Hawthorne families to attend a Westerville South basketball game.
During Thursday’s parade, teachers and staff decked out in school T-shirts, cheering and waving as they walked past familiar faces and homes.
Among those that joined the festivities: Kristie Cameron, an English Language teacher at Westerville North High School who advises the new Warrior Way Mentors. The student mentors, who are current freshmen and sophomores, will work with Hawthorne students next year as a way to build a connection to students who will eventually attend North.