Stark County’s Catholic elementary schools celebrated the end of the school year with a traditional rite of passage.
Fourth- and fifth-grade students and seventh- and eighth-grade students took part in the Catholic school tradition of “Pass It On,” a ceremony dedicated to “passing on” the light of leadership and responsibility for school camaraderie onto the next class.
According to a news release from Stark County Catholic Schools, each “Pass It On” is a unique to the participating elementary school and reflects each school’s unique identity. Typically, the ceremony takes place at Mass after the student body has worshiped together for the final time that school year.
Each graduating student passes a candle to a younger peer. The older student’s then process out, leaving the “light” of leadership with the next class for the 2019-20 school year.
Those schools hosting the ceremonies Thursday were St. Mary School in Massillon, St. Joan of Arc School in Canton and Sts. Philip and James in Canal Fulton.