PORT ORCHARD — It was a pilgrimage of sorts for dozens of South Kitsap High School graduates-to-be at Cedar Heights Middle School on June 12.

After the seniors finished rehearsing earlier in the day for their graduation ceremony at the Tacoma Dome, busloads of the students headed to their old junior-high stomping grounds — Cedar Heights, John Sedgwick or Marcus Whitman, now reclassified as middle schools — to take in the familiar sites and mingle with students there.

But most significantly, the grads were on site to hand out cards of thanks to the teachers and staff members who inspired them during their educational journey.

In one of the “Walk of the Graduates” visits, the South Kitsap high school students walked the hallways inside and pathways surrounding Cedar Heights’ facilities.

Mostly clustered in threes and fours, the graduating high-schoolers surrounded favorite instructors, including principal Andrew Cain, who reconnected with some of the students, asking, “Where are you headed next?” or “Are you still involved in Band?”

South Kitsap High School seniors gathered for their final “Walk of the Graduates” in the Tacoma Dome on June 12, for the Class of 2018 commencement ceremony.

The final day of school at South Kitsap is Monday, June 18.

Discovery Alternative High School’s graduation was on Monday, June 4.

Explorer/Hope Academy students graduated on Monday, June 11.

Graduating South Kitsap High School seniors, still dressed in caps and gowns after taking part in a commencement rehearsal earlier on Tuesday, June 12, visit their old middle school campus, Cedar Heights, and converse with the school’s principal, Andrew Cain. The students will take part in the graduation commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome on June 12. (Bob Smith | Kitsap Daily News photo)