Written By: Molly Hart

RCDS is considered by many to be an intense, academically rigorous high school, prepping students for college incredibly well. Senior year is when all the hard work starts to pay off; however, it is still incredibly stressful for our beloved seniors, and, in their last year as high schoolers, they deserve a silver lining to get them through a tough time. Senior Sunrise, first day white-out, Senior Skip Day, kiddie backpacks, decorating your car, and parent-sponsored college counseling breakfasts are just a few senior traditions at RCDS. While every school puts its own spin on the experience, the purpose is the same: to give seniors a final sense of pride, closure, and unity before they graduate, and to provide those in the grades below them with light-hearted activities to look forward to as school starts to ramp up.

For Zoe Sterling-Dixon ‘26, the year began with an exciting bang. Her entire class followed tradition and dressed in white on the first day. The beginning of senior year is a daunting experience, but the simple act of dressing alike provided a sense of community and the idea that “we’re all in this together.” She was specifically excited for two more creative traditions, one being the most competitive and the other being a bittersweet full-circle moment. Sterling-Dixon says, “Going into the year, I was most looking forward to decorating my car and the spoons game. These traditions help us de-stress through the college process and the school year and help the senior class connect with each other.” Senior year is notorious for its pressures, looming deadlines, and feeling overwhelming. These traditions provide a necessary counterweight, allowing seniors a chance to reconnect with their inner child and to take a well-deserved break.

In addition to having enjoyable moments within certain traditions, one of the most important aspects of senior year is the granting of new privileges. Significantly better parking spaces, off-campus access, and senior sleep-ins are all highly sought-after opportunities. Lydia Sussman ‘26 discussed her excitement at finally being able to have more freedom to make her own choices. She elaborated that “the traditions definitely bond us,” as many people go out to lunch with their friends. Some even develop relationships with those they were not necessarily close with beforehand.

Going off campus is less about the food itself—although having something other than pasta for lunch every day is a nice change of pace—but rather more about the independence it provides. Finally gaining a special freedom that has been anticipated for years is just one aspect of senior traditions that contributes a magic touch to a challenging year.

Perhaps one of the most important parts of senior year is the solidification of bonds and the creation of new ones. When asked her opinion on senior traditions, Skyla Perez ‘26 responded, “They’re fun ways to help us bond and relax during the most stressful year of high school. They get the class to foster connections, new and old, since it’s our last year at RCDS and we just want to socialize and enjoy ourselves before we graduate.” The idea that traditions help the grade bond was a common theme among the seniors and is one of the main reasons they live on.

Taken together, the seniors’ reflections suggest that these traditions serve multiple purposes. Not only do they relieve stress and strengthen the community, but they also create memories. When looking back on senior year, they will hopefully recall not the grades of their AP Exams or the anxiety around college acceptances, but instead standing together in the cold at sunrise huddled in blankets, painting cars with bright colors and slogans like “Honk if you ♡ Seniors,” and the back pain from dragging their spoon along the floor to avoid elimination.

As the Class of 2026 continues their final year at RCDS and as high schoolers, the rituals that define senior year will continue to serve as reminders of the community they have built. Whether it’s through matching outfits, too-small backpacks, or shared meals at Cava, the seniors have ensured that their legacy will be remembered through laughter and smiles, instead of stress and college applications.