The bittersweet feeling many seniors experience through their last months of high school is everlasting. The time to say goodbye to childhood friends and inspiring teachers is finally here. Although these times may be stressful for seniors, there are many events happening that seniors can look forward to.
The yearly prom is on May 10 at the Shadow Lakes Country Club in Aliquippa. Juniors and seniors kick off the night with the Grand March. Grand March starts at 5:15 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This is a way for students to show off their prom attire. Students line up by assigned numbers, starting with Junior and Senior class officers, and then finishing the rest of the line in the order of when tickets were bought. After the Grand March, students are escorted to the prom by police officers. The dance itself will begin at 7 p.m. and run until midnight.
The senior class officers decided to replace the senior class trip to Cedar Point with a Senior Sunset. The Senior Sunset will take place on May 2 from 5-9 pm. All the remaining money in the senior’s account has been put towards this end of the school year celebration. There are food trucks and activities planned for the seniors to enjoy. In the possibility that it might rain, the rain date will be May 9.
“The whole idea behind why the Senior class officers chose to do Senior Sunset was to create an event for the whole class to participate in while being free of cost,” Sara Aland (12) said.
On May 16, graduation projects will be held at the high school. Each senior was assigned a group of teachers who will watch their presentations or interviews. All seniors should have been emailed a copy of the schedule so they can plan accordingly.
Those seniors who were enrolled in a Beaver County Career and Technology Center (CTC) program will have their CTC graduation on May 23 starting at 12:30 pm. The ceremony will be taking place at the Community College of Beaver County Dome.
“I am very excited for the CTC graduation because I am ready to get out into the workforce,” Drew Hilberry (12) said.
Apart from all of the major events, there are also minor things seniors need to keep in the back of their minds. For example, final grades, last day of school and more. Final grades for seniors are due May 29 and their last day of school follows on May 30.
Last but certainly not least: graduation. There are many steps to take before the Commencement Ceremony takes place, including the graduation practices seniors are required to attend. The first graduation practice takes place on June 3 from 10am-12pm. Then, on June 4, seniors will have both the graduation walk and practice from 9:30am-12pm. Seniors will be shown when they walk across the stage, how they walk back to their seats and more.
The graduation commencement ceremony takes place on June 5 starting at 7 pm. Each senior is granted four tickets for family and friends. Those who do not have a ticket are required to wait until gates open. In the possibility that it rains on the day of graduation, the ceremony will be moved to the auditorium. After graduation, seniors have the opportunity to celebrate with classmates by going on the Gateway Clipper. The Gateway Clipper is a yearly tradition as a senior send-off so seniors get their final goodbye.