AIKEN — The morning of May 23 included some joyful noise at Horse Creek Academy, with the entire student body on board for a “senior walk,” celebrating the second graduating glass in the charter school’s history.

All 79 members of the senior class walked through the various classroom buildings, with their teachers and younger classmates cheering and offering a little confetti along the way. The school has 1,500 students, from kindergarten through 12th grade, so the procession took a few minutes.

Helping orchestrate the event was Elizabeth Anderson, an English teacher. She said, “This is the first day when they’ve put on their cap and gown – they’ve got a reason to – and they have finished their exams and they’ve come back early in the morning to do this, and I think it really sinks in with them that this is it. They’re about to graduate and move on, as ultimately a grownup now, and it’s neat to see that.”

Eighth-grader Karis Beck described the event as “chaotic but every exciting,” with music as part of the mix, and said that the younger students appreciated the chance to express best wishes for the seniors as they approach graduation (May 31 at 6 p.m.)

The overall combination was a hit, Anderson said, adding, “Anyone likes to be celebrated, so when everybody’s cheering and throwing confetti at them, it’s special, to make it a big deal.”