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SCCS: Not ‘blocking’ mementos

SILVER CREEK — Despite worries circulating on Facebook that the long-held tradition of “Moving Up Day” bricks is coming to a close, it just isn’t so. However, the tradition is changing.

A iPetition has appeared in many Facebook feeds recently, proclaiming “STOP THE PAINTING OVER OF OUR PAINTED ‘MOVING UP’ BLOCKS!!!” The petition goes on to say “Let the SCCS Administration know we must preserve our history, our artwork, our rights of passage, our MARKS on our school! STOP the painting over of the bricks we students and alumni painted when we “moved up” from elementary to middle school/Jr. High! If you wish to preserve your mark on SCCS, PLEASE sign the petition and urge the administration to STOP THE PAINTING! The school’s phone number: (716) 934-2306 Let our united voices be heard! #BKP #blackknightpride.”

As of Wednesday, the petition had garnered 506 signatures and 208 comments. Most of the signees and commenters are alumni of the school, or parents of past students who have graduated.

The OBSERVER reached out to Superintendent of Schools Todd Crandall, who clarified that no one is painting over students’ bricks. Rather, the district has to tweak the tradition, since the school’s walls are simply running out of room.

“To be clear, we are not painting over any of the ‘Moving Up Day’ bricks,” explained Crandall. “Rather, we are redesigning the process, which will help us sustain this wonderful tradition here at SCCS.”

Instead of bricks on the wall, children will paint commemorative tiles.

“Our present 5th graders will be creating their personal tiles during class time, which will then be displayed in the hallways until they graduate. Upon graduation in 2024, as seniors, our students will be able to take their tiles home and preserve their … memor(ies) forever wherever they may go.”

And, for posterity and future generations, the tiles will be photographed.

“Just as all of the other tile blocks in our building have been individually photographed over the past several years, these tiles will also be individually photographed for preservation and digitally displayed during special events and programs throughout the Elementary building,” Crandall said.

This way, children can take memories home AND leave them behind.

“As you can imagine, this is being done out of necessity because we simply are beginning to run out of tile room in the Elementary building for upcoming classes,” he said. “In essence, we believe this plan will both preserve a tradition and successfully allow future children to be able to participate without running out of block wall space.”

Look for old painted blocks and new painted tiles at the fall school events!

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