On their final day of classes, members of the senior class arrived in the AAC parking lot bright and early to have an outdoor breakfast together before heading into school. Students decorated their school uniforms with tie-dye, glitter, feathers, college logos – you name it! For the remainder of the day, they invited classmates and teachers to sign their shirts to keep as a special memento.
The following day, the whole school celebrated the seniors together. Seniors gathered in the auditorium in the morning to watch a retrospective video of their time throughout OLSH, put together by class historian Mary Grace Gauntner. They loved looking back on special memories from freshman year through now, even getting a glimpse of their classmates as babies. After watching the video, underclassmen and teachers lined up in the hallway outside of their homerooms to participate in the Senior Walkthrough. This special tradition allows students to say goodbye to the seniors as they file through each floor, and is always packed full of emotion as students offer hugs and handshakes to each other.
From the walkthrough, seniors processed straight into the chapel, where they received San Damiano crucifixes at a special blessing service. Class president Elena Polar encouraged her classmates to cherish their final moments together, while reflecting on her hope that the senior class was a positive influence on others, and giving underclassmen the advice to “Remember to keep God at the center of your lives and all that you do, knowing that He has a plan for you.”
Junior class president Anthony Hansen also addressed the seniors, reminding them of the lessons they have learned and will continue to learn throughout their lives. “For you, high school was filled with countless challenges, but also countless opportunities and experiences that have taught you numerous life lessons…As you step into the next chapter of your life, remember that every challenge is also an invitation to grow. Success is not solely defined by the destination, but by the lessons learned throughout.”
After singing the OLSH Alma Mater, seniors walked out the back doors of the chapel and headed straight to Youthtowne for their class retreat. At the retreat, students bond with each other and open up special letters from their classmates, taking a quiet moment to themselves to read the messages.
This week is always one to remember at OLSH, and is full of so many special moments as the seniors head into graduation! Though the celebrations are bittersweet, they are such a special reminder that when you’re at OLSH, you’re family.