Holtville High School seniors are hoping a new tradition connects the community like never before.
The Holtville Legacy Project started Friday Oct. 18. Soon-to-be graduates from the Class of 2025 present small footballs to the Class of 2038. In return, the kindergarteners presented the seniors with a bracelet and hand-drawn artwork. To make the occasion even more special, the exchange took place at the 50 yard line of Boykin-Chapman Field. Just getting on the field and interacting with the senior class was special for the kindergarteners.
“Anytime the kids have an opportunity to get on the field, whether it's Saturday in the youth league participation or whether it's just a fun day to come running around and play on the field, they love it,” Holtville Elementary School principal Tanya Boone said. “This is really special because today they get to interact with the big kids and my daughter.”
Boone’s daughter Baliea is a member of the Holtville Class of 2025. It means a lot to Baliea to be a part of the new tradition.
“It bonds us together, two separate classes that come together as one,” Boone said.
Holtville High School principal Sean Kreauter is a graduate of Holtville High School. He doesn’t recall an event mixing the senior class with kindergarteners at the school.
“I mean, we're such a small community,” Kreauter said. “We just wanted to have something that, from the elementary to the high school, that created some kind of bond.”
There are just over 100 in the Class of 2025 and nearly 150 in the Class of 2038. Like so many classes before them, Boone and the other seniors want to leave a mark on the community. But she wasn’t so sure of her mom’s idea to start with.
“At first I was like, ‘Mom, you're a little crazy,’” Boone said. “Then I was like, that's super sweet. We can totally do this and it’s gonna be great. It's gonna be so cute.”
On the same field football has been played on for generations, the classes line up on opposing goal lines and walked towards each other. They met at the 50-yard line and exchanged gifts. Some hugged and everyone took photos.
“We just want to show the community that we love each other and we're gonna take care of each other,” the elder Boone said. “Our community is so supportive of each other, coming together, and so we want to do anything to promote the community and school pride. That's what we want to do here.”
