Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci student body officers, Kandace Alvarez, left, and Yeddidia Laputa Kanyinda, right, lead fellow members of the Class of 2025 in the decades-old tradition of running the halls on the first day of school.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – It is not exactly the running of the bulls, a centuries-old, multi-summertime festival tradition of Spain, Portugal, southern France, or Mexico throughout approximately half a mile; but, more of a family event as parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings not of school age, along with underclassmen, teachers, and administrators line the halls to observe the current senior students pass by. No one was gored or trampled.
This event marks the beginning of their final 180 days as high school students, broken down into four, nine-week grading periods with a two-week break in between each.
The tradition started “on the Hill” with the Class of 1981. The original purpose was to walk down the hall at the end of the last day of school to say goodbye to teachers and students.
“It was my senior year,” said MHS grad and current county schools superintendent Bryan Boling. “I still remember taking that walk. It is a nice positive tradition that creates good memories. It has evolved into the semi-wild run it is today, still a good tradition.”
Two classes made that walk before the school “on the Hill” closed in May 1982, and 42 other classes have done that since the current building opened its doors for the Fall 1982 term.
Over 80 students made that run this year and will be involved with an exit run as well in May. It is a good time to reflect on what their immediate predecessors were able to accomplish, and figure out if their short-term goals and dreams will be realized, by the time they accept their diplomas.
Preceding the run was a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes prepared by Morenci Fire Department volunteers outside the multipurpose room, along with a continental breakfast of fruits and orange juice also served by volunteers indoors.
The rest of the day was spent with attendance and schedule distribution, an opening assembly with words of wisdom by principal Don Goodman for the upcoming school year, attending sessions eight different half-hour sessions in four groups by grade, as well as the day-ending assembly, capped with an ice cream bar as students exited Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium. The eight sessions included attendance, tardies, and discipline; the dress code; motivational messages and CATS code; school spirit and traditions; student health issues; emergency drills and school safety; team building; and chrome books.
Morenci High School’s first day of the 2024-25 school year is history. The countdown for the final day has begun.
