The MHS/PHS Class of 2025 donned their caps and gowns on Wednesday and headed not to Witter Field, but back to the blacktops and playfields of their former elementary schools as part of the first Cap and Gown Day organized by Senior Class Presidents Juliana DeYoung and Dean Olliphant.
It was a joyful return to where many of them started their K-12 journey. At each site, the seniors were greeted like celebrities — students at Beach, Havens, and Wildwood Elementary Schools cheered and high-fived the seniors as they made their way through the halls and classrooms of each school site. The seniors relived favorite recess pastimes and many had a chance to visit former teachers and classrooms and share memories of their elementary years with current students.
“It was great full-circle moment for all the seniors,” said Olliphant. “It was really cool to see the continued impact the teachers we had in elementary school have had years down the line. I hope this can become a tradition in the future.”
“All of the seniors had the best time and said how much they loved going back to their roots of their old elementary schools. It allowed seniors to reconnect and reminisce,” said DeYoung.
Seniors who did not attend a Piedmont elementary school could attend any of the three schools.
Some scenes of the day captured by Meghan Bennett (Beach), Julie Reichle (Havens), and Josh Litwin (Wildwood).
Beach Elementary School
The Class of 2025 gathers at the Beach entrance on May 21. 
A look back 
Seniors Nick King, Jordan Alemania, and William Ferreira prepare to greet a class 
Nick King, Adan Sotelo, Ben Sachs, Alma Roberto, and Alex Gish 
Hudson Cole, Charlie Wright, and Nikolas Markopoulos answer questions from students 
A rapt audience for four former students 
Jacques Saldanha walks the halls of the past
Havens Elementary School
Excited elementary school students watch as the seniors take a lap around Becker Playfield 
(L to R) Emma Eisemon, Juliana Thornborrow, Eliza Hammond, and Abigail Call get high fives from fans 
Jacob Rodriguez and Torsten Olsen 
Yotam Kariv and Jake Hanke 
Tommy Ashton, Markos Lagios, Havens teacher Jodi Carter, and Sam Shelby 
At Havens Gate (photo courtesy of Rebecca Thornborrow)
Wildwood Elementary School
One of the senior class presidents, Dean Olliphant (l), chats with friends 
Gus von Metzsch and a Wildwood student during a game of kickball 
Sarah Sullivan and other grads chat with Wildwood students during lunch 
Olive Litwin and Emily Williamson 
Shafer Dando and Miles Silver toss the football with a Wildwood student 