What Do Seniors Do in High School

Every school and community has their own set of Senior Year Traditions.

Whether you're looking for new ideas, or are just curious about how other schools celebrate senior year, here are some of the most common and popular traditions celebrated by high school seniors.

Adopt A Senior Though not new, this concept became super popular on Facebook in the spring of 2020 when schools first closed due to the pandemic. Typically, seniors are "adopted" by underclassmen or members of the community and showered with gifts. Read more about setting up the Adopt A Senior idea.

Class Rings Class rings show school spirit and highlight high school activities and interests. Some high schools hold formal ring ceremonies where a graduating class all receives together. Traditionally, rings are worn facing the student before graduation and turned to face the world after graduation.

Decorating Lockers You can do this at the beginning of the year, during spirit week, for senior night or just prior to graduation. Parents may decorate the lockers for their students, underclassmen might take on the task, or seniors can decorate their own lockers. Get creative!

Decorating Parking Spaces

Last First Day Pictures This may be more of a tradition for senior parents than seniors themselves! It's become popular in recent years to take and post - sometimes alongside kindergarten pictures - "first last day" pictures of seniors on the first day of their senior year. It's common to use props in the photos like our Senior Year Signs.

Nerf Wars/Water Wars/Senior Tag Nerf wars, water wars and senior tag are different names for a team tournament typically organized by seniors in the spring. Small teams compete to eliminate each other in a bracketed tournament with the last team standing declared the winner. Gear up! Nerf Blaster Nerf Guns and Super Soaker Water Guns on Amazon.

Senior Breakfast A Senior Breakfast may be held in the beginning of the year as a bonding activity for the class and to distribute class schedules,  during the year to mark a milestone on the calendar like 100 school days left, or at the end of the year to announce superlative winners or simply celebrate the end of high school. So many options!

Senior Car Parade Another fun tradition often used to kick off senior year! Students decorate their cars and dress up to parade from a starting location to their high school on the first day of school. Prizes are awarded for various categories. For Graduation Car Parade ideas and decorations, click here.

Senior Carnival/Field Day

Senior Class Picture A commemorative photo of the graduating class, it is still popular to take a group photo of the graduating class on campus, often in the football stadium.  A fun variation on the formal seated picture is to have the students create their graduation year on a large field and have the photo taken from above.

Senior Crowns To celebrate reaching senior year, seniors decorate crowns to wear on the first day of school, during the first week, or throughout the year at senior events. The crowns are often elaborately decorated with a theme, or to represent a student's interests & activities. You can purchase blank white cardstock crowns in bulk on Amazon. Alternatively, Burger King crowns turned inside out are a very economical option!

Senior Lock-In A senior lock-in may be held as a bonding activity or as a safe alternative to after-prom parties. Students spend the night at the school under the supervision of chaperones; popular themes include Casino Night, Mardi Gras, Roaring 20's, Hawaiian Luau and Disco.

Senior Night

Senior Pictures

Senior Prank Senior Pranks are usually carried out at the end of the year as a final farewell to the high school community. Fun and creativity are key, and if you can safely disrupt the school day a little bit at the expense of your teachers, you'll have achieved the primary goal of a senior prank. Check out this list of actual senior pranks .

Senior Skip Day Senior Skip Day is pretty self-explanatory. Seniors designate a day in the spring, often the Monday after prom, to skip school and usually go to the beach, an amusement park or a local recreation area to spend the day avoiding school and having fun.

Senior Sleepout Sleeping outside, on campus is one of the ways that some classes kickoff their senior year. It's an opportunity to bond and truly start the year together. A "Senior Sleepout" may also refer to an event to raise awareness for homelessness in which seniors choose a night to sleep outside, rain or shine.

Senior Sunrise The Senior Sunrise tradition involves seniors choosing a day to get up early and gather on the football field (or another spot on campus) to watch the sun rise as a class. Students might bring blankets and eat breakfast while they and sit with their friends ready to snap pictures of the sunrise. Read our Senior Sunrise Ideas post. See the Senior Sunrise collection in our digital shop.

Senior Sunset As a bookend event to the Senior Sunrise, the senior class may hold a Senior Sunset event toward the end of the year as the "sun sets" on their high school career. Alternatively, some senior classes hold a Senior Sunset at the beginning of the year as a kick-off event, typically with food, games and class bonding activities.

Senior T-Shirts It's a common tradition for the senior class to design a senior t-shirt to wear on the first day of school and to other senior events. The design usually incorporates the year of the graduating class and the class slogan.

Senior Trip There are two versions of the Senior Trip. The first is a school organized trip, usually at the end of the year, just before graduation. Seniors may also, or alternatively, plan a beach trip for the week after graduation. Need fundraiser ideas for your senior trip? Read our post about HS fundraisers.

Senior Wills Senior Wills are a way to commemorate friendships and memories from 4 years of high school. Seniors leave objects, experiences and memories to friends, faculty and underclassmen in their senior wills. They may be published in the yearbook, school newspaper or in a separate supplement.

Signing Day Signing Day refers to the day athletes sign their National Letter of Intent to play their sport in college. National Signing Day is officially the first Wednesday of February, but schools often hold multiple signing day ceremonies to accommodate all of the athletes who intend to sign a National Letter of Intent.

Yearbook Ads Senior Ads in the back of the yearbook are an opportunity for family and friends to publicly congratulate seniors on graduation. For an easy way to design your own ad, check out our Yearbook Senior Ad Templates . They were professionally designed, include multiple ad sizes and can be customized with a free account at Canva.com

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NEW! Ideas for a Memorable Senior Sunrise Including Printables & Digital Templates

Planning a Senior Sunrise Event From communication to food, decorations and activities, how to plan an epic Senior Sunrise that unites a class as they embark on their senior year! Read

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What Do Seniors Do in High School

Source: https://www.trianglesenioryear.com/senioryeartraditions

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