As seniors spend their final moments on King Street, Class of 2024 president Ashley O’Meara and alumna Mrs. Meghan Mara Ryan ’01 reminisced about the legacy of senior traditions that have deep roots in Sacred Heart Greenwich history.  These festivities are integral to the senior year experience, and students eagerly anticipate the events throughout their time in high school. 

Among these cherished traditions that seniors honor is the Senior Sunrise.  This tradition marks the beginning of the school year, as the graduating class gathers to watch the sunrise together.  In the fall, seniors also celebrate Senior Day, during which they decorate the Core Center with their designated color, which was red this year, and receive their senior privileges. 

Another tradition is the Sacred Heart College Instagram Grads Account, which congratulates each senior on her acceptance into college.  As the class president, Ashley is responsible for running the account.  Planning senior traditions involves significant effort, balancing various opinions and preferences.  For instance, each senior class votes on a gift to give back to the school and leave a lasting impact on campus.  Ashley offered insight into the intricate process of organizing these senior activities.

“There is a lot of work behind the scenes that goes into planning the senior traditions,” Ashley said.  “For example, for the tradition of the Sacred Heart College Instagram Grads Account, I have to come up with captions and edit people’s baby photos to post to Instagram.  For the tradition of the class gift, I had to ask around for ideas for our class gift and send out Google forms for the class to vote on which class gift they wanted to choose.”

The traditions continue during the spring season, when Senior Skip Day offers a break from classes and an opportunity to bond as a grade off-campus.  Seniors also choose a prank to pull on the high school faculty and students.  This year, the seniors turned the courtyard into an Ibiza-themed party.  Additionally, the Senior Sunset is one of the final traditions before graduation that wraps up the memorable senior year. 

On the seniors’ last day of school, each member of the graduating class draws the logo of the college they are attending on their white polo, and their classmates sign the back of them.  Mrs. Ryan, who graduated in the Class of 2001, shared some of her favorite senior traditions from her time at Sacred Heart.  She touched on how these traditions brought her class together and how the memory resonates with her now as a mother of Sacred Heart students in the Lower School.

“My favorite senior tradition was when we signed each other’s uniform skirts,” Mrs. Ryan said.  “When I was in the Upper School, we had a light blue uniform skirt, and just like the seniors now sign each other’s shirts at the end of the year, we would sign each other’s uniform skirts.  My sisters and I all still have our signed skirts.”

Throughout the academic year, the seniors also have the opportunity to serve as Eucharistic Ministers and actively participate in all-school liturgies.  Mrs. Ryan and Ashley both served as Eucharistic Ministers during their time as seniors.  Mrs. Ryan shared how this experience allowed her to serve as a role model and leader for younger students.

“Another favorite senior tradition was becoming a Eucharistic Minister,” Mrs. Ryan said.  “Having such an important role at liturgies really sets seniors apart as leaders of the school.”

As the members of the Class of 2024 prepare to embark on new adventures, they reflect on the significance of the cherished and timeless traditions that have defined their senior year experience.  Under the leadership of their class president, they have embraced these traditions with enthusiasm and camaraderie, forging lasting memories and strengthening the bonds of their close-knit community.  From the Senior Sunrise, symbolizing the start of their senior year, to the final Senior Sunset, marking the culmination of their time at Sacred Heart, each tradition holds significance for the graduating class.

“Having everyone together for the sunrise on the first day of truly shows how tight-knit we are as a grade,” Ashley said.  “Currently, I am planning a senior sunset to bookend our senior year, allowing us to start and end our year together.”