To celebrate seniors’ post-secondary plans, the Bears Leaving the Den senior celebration took place on April 29, 2022.
Assistant Principal Tashanna Boutte and College and Career Readiness teacher April Young were the key event planners. Boutte got inspiration for Bears Leaving the Den from her time spent at Cy-Falls High School, thanks to a former colleague Pamela Branch.
“I thought seniors needed to be celebrated, every year and it’s our way as a school of saying, job well done,” Boutte said, “You move on to post-secondary plans, you set goals, continue that forward-thinking process that your parents have instilled in you and your teachers have encouraged you over the years. So it’s just our way of saying congratulations, job well done.”
Planning for the event started in August 2021; Boutte along with multiple counselors including Lead-counselor Shayla Rodriguez-Bell and Associate Principal Dr. Yolonda Sneed, met every month to discuss and organize the event.
“It’s gonna get bigger and bigger each year,” Boutte said, “So now since this is the first annual [event] we have pictures we have videos and now we can encourage our underclassmen to participate.”

To participate in the event, seniors had to fill out the senior legacy wall, where they uploaded their post-secondary plans and an acceptance letter from their institution. 385 students signed up for the event and 97 institutions were represented at the celebration. Programs created by the CFISD print shop were made for the celebration showcasing where the seniors were going.
Members of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish National Honor Society helped blow up balloons and create the arch. Members of the football team helped place yard signs of the institutions students were attending in front of the school.
“Hopefully you all felt loved and appreciated from Bridgeland high school. That was the whole purpose and you know, our way of saying keep it going, keep it moving,” Boutte said.“Don’t let anything you know stand in your way once you graduate because you’re going to run into some obstacles but continue to succeed in the pathway that you all have achieved and accomplished so far.”
Senior Jermaine Daloyoc is going to Louisiana State University where she’ll major in Biological Sciences. Daloyoc enjoyed Bears Leaving the Den, especially seeing the drumline perform. When it comes to Daloyoc’s post-secondary plans she is prepared and ready to go to college.
“I would say obviously there’s going to be a bit of nerves especially because I’m moving out of the state,” Daloyoc said, “But overall, I think I’m really excited to like, meet new people and try out new things.”
During the Bears Leaving the Den celebration, ten students were given ten-dollar H-E-B gift cards. Senior Aurora Bulcock was one of the students who received a gift card. Bulcock will attend the University of Texas at Tyler and major in biology.
“It was amazing, It was just a really good time.” Bulcock said, “There was a lot of energy brought to like the whole thing when Miss Boutte was speaking, when Miss Young was speaking. Just like even in the crowd too.”
Senior Hezekiah Anthony will be attending the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), majoring in Fashion Management and Marketing. Anthony is going to SCAD to help grow his clothing business and because he’s enjoyed designing clothing.
“It was a great environment and they had food and it was very immersive,” Anthony said.