ALTON - As Alton Middle School’s eighth graders completed their final day of school, the community gathered to congratulate them.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, families and community members lined the sidewalks of Alton Middle School to honor the Class of 2030 as they prepare to transition to Alton High School. Principal Dr. Brian Saenz noted that it was “emotional,” with some “anxiety” about next year, but also a lot of excitement.
“All the tears that you see, a lot of that has to do with the anxiety, but I think a lot of it has to do with, they love the middle school. They love their friends. They have the memories of being at the middle school,” he said. “It really shows a strong connection between kids and their teachers in the school. So that’s an important thing to see, too.”
The students were greeted with cheers, balloons, confetti and posters as they exited the buildings for the final time and walked into “the pit” at the middle school. Families expressed pride in their students, and community members were eager to celebrate the next generation of ninth graders.
Saenz shared that the eighth grade “walkout” has been an Alton Community Unit School District #11 tradition for years. The community goes out of its way to honor the eighth grade students and encourage them to be excited about their next step. The walkout demonstrates that it truly takes a village to raise and care for kids.
“We spend so much time with them throughout the day and throughout the course of the year. We spend almost as much time with them, probably, as their families, in some sense, because we’re with them all day long,” Saenz said. “Just watching them grow and seeing their parents, it’s a really exciting thing to be a part of.”
He added that he has spoken to students about this transition for several weeks now. A lot of the eighth graders are a little intimidated by high school, and they feel some anxiety as they prepare to move to a new building.
Saenz reminds them that they have navigated difficult transitions before, including when they came to the middle school as sixth graders. He believes this class is strong and ready to become ninth grade students, and he is already proud of them.
“Life is a constant collection of transitions,” he said. “You’ve done it already. You’ll be fine.”
The Class of 2030 is onto their next chapter, and the middle school staff and administrators can’t wait to see them succeed.
This Featured Article is sponsored by Alton Community Unit School District #11. To get your business or organization featured on www.Riverbender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
