Decorated parking lot at Notre Dame High School.

These High School Traditions Are Nowhere to be Found at M-A

Traditions are essential to every school’s unique culture. Whether it’s a fun activity to raise spirit or an event that reminds people of school history and values, traditions can bring together a student body and community.

At M-A, students participate in a range of traditions, including senior sunrise and dressing in camo when playing Sacred Heart Prep. Even so, there are plenty of traditions other local high schools have that M-A doesn’t take part in. Here are a few. 

Senior Parking Spaces

Courtesy Rhea Vishnoi Decorated parking lot at Notre Dame High School.

At many schools, students are assigned designated parking spots. At the start of the year, seniors get the chance to decorate their spot with custom illustrations. M-A’s seniors temporarily decorated parking spaces with chalk for senior sunrise, but having a personal parking space for the entire year gives seniors a lasting source of pride and individuality.

Notre Dame Sophomore Allison Wright observed this tradition at her school. “There’s a specific day for seniors to decorate their parking spots, and that’s gonna be their parking spot for the rest of the year,” she said. “I’m really excited. I think it’s a really fun tradition.” Decorating their parking spot gives students a chance to be imaginative, get creative, and express themselves. 

Seniors can coordinate matching designs with friends or come up with an idea special to themselves. Whether through favorite colors, themes, or meaningful symbols, each senior gets the chance to customize their parking spot exactly how they want.

Senior (Letterman) Jackets

At some schools, and in lots of movies, senior athletes are awarded customized jackets at the end of the season. The jackets often feature patches—Varsity letters—displaying the athlete’s name, number, school, or even their specific achievements, making each one unique and personal. 

At Carlmont last year, underclassmen coordinated jackets for seniors on the varsity volleyball team. “I think it’s a really sweet gesture toward the seniors because of how much effort they put in,” sophomore Ashlyn Wong said. For graduating seniors, these jackets symbolize years of hard work, growth, and accomplishments. They serve not only as a memento of their athletic journey but also as a badge of pride, reflecting on the commitment and perseverance that defined their high school experience.

Senior Pranks

Although M-A does have a history of participating in senior pranks, the tradition has dwindled in the past few years. 

Senior pranks are a fun opportunity for seniors to collaborate on successfully pulling off a large-scale joke. This tradition can be a pleasant surprise for unsuspecting students and staff.

Common senior pranks include covering entire schools in plastic wrap, balloon avalanches, or organizing students to form a flash mob.

As the tradition evolves, finding a balance between fun and respect for the school environment can keep this aspect of senior year enjoyable and meaningful.

Julinka is a sophomore in her first year of journalism. She enjoys writing about academic culture as well as reporting on unique student experiences at M-A.

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