For the first-ever graduating class at JLA, Senior Week has its own defining rhythm. A brass gong awaits to be struck, a joyful sound that fills the Upper School Commons with clapping and encouragement whenever a student sends off a college application.
Senior Week is a new experience for our school because this week, the twelfth graders are applying to colleges. Senior Week is designed to help make the process of college application a bit better through fun days and special privileges.
Our school has provided an area for our seniors to work in peace, sectioning it off with barriers so no other grades can enter. This space has decorations like inspirational messages, senior signs, and is equipped with many Hershey Kisses. His favorite part, Jake Kravetz says, is the gong, which is hit when someone applies, “It seems like a little thing, but I really do like it!”
Every day, there is a special event happening for seniors. For example, on Monday, teachers wrote motivational notes for them. On Tuesday, therapy dogs came and joined the seniors in their special, blocked-off area in the Upper School Commons. They had pajama day on Wednesday. They were given hot chocolate on Thursday. And on Friday, there was a dessert offered to them at lunch.
Since the seniors may not have enough free time to work on their applications, the school has provided them with a lot of free time to work on them throughout the first semester. They have a class called Senior Independence Hall, where they have designated time to apply to college – this will become Senior Thesis second semester. The seniors can also opt to have a “free period” instead of Hebrew every other day. Additionally, seniors receive five tickets that allow them to skip one class per day this week.
Most of the seniors are following the trend of wearing a kids’ backpack to create a nostalgic “full circle” moment. Some of them also painted their parking curb in the school lot. Earlier this year, the administration gifted them with green polo shirts that stand out against the blue or white uniform shirt. These are just some of the fun privileges seniors are given to help ease the stress of college applications.
When asked about what it’s like to be the first graduating year, many of the seniors said that it’s both exciting and terrifying. Jake shared that, “This sets the precedent for the school. Even if one or two of us go to something crazy like an Ivy League, that’s a high percentage – it will give the school a very good reputation.” Seniors already have a lot on their minds, and the pressure to do well makes it even harder. The good thing about being first, though, is that they can make traditions that will be passed down through future JLA generations.
Overall, many seniors expressed their joy over the perks they get for Senior Week, and it really gives us the opportunity as a school community to express our support for our 12th graders during this challenging time.
