Local seniors were greeted back to school on their first day with a dash of color and special messages left by their biggest supporters.

Parents of seniors at Mercer Island High School got together to continue the tradition of decorating parking spaces with chalk the night before the (final) first day of school for their kids.

In the evening, dozens of parents and families came together with chalk of all colors to pay a tribute to the path of their children through their years in school. Trombones, soccer balls, theater posters, musical notes, footballs, MI logos, flowers, nicknames and many hearts and loving messages overflowed the parking spaces to create beautiful and loving “welcome back to school” messages for the students, to get them ready for their final year.

The Mercer Island High School PTSA organized the event which raised nearly $500 in donations for the Senior Class fund to be used for end of year celebration events.

Whole families gathered to decorate spaces celebrating their kids and siblings. Parents who hadn’t seen each other since elementary days recounted tales of their children starting out together. In addition, a team of creative volunteers made sure each space was filled with names and decorations, and provided a banner to welcome all of the students back to school.

A team of creative and hard working volunteers made sure every single space was filled with decorations. Photo courtesy of Anne Hritzay