BHSPA Senior Week

Senior Week

Senior Week Traditions
Besides the prom and graduation, Seniors participate in an amazing number of official and “unofficial” events during Senior Week that keep them awake for most of the week and eventually lead them to crash at the end of it.

Senior Slide Show
Several weeks before the end of school, seniors will be asked to bring in pictures (from baby years through the school years) of themselves and friends. Someone usually compiles these pictures onto a video with music and it runs all day at school on the last day of Senior classes.

Mark the pictures clearly and they will be returned.

Senior Class Barbecue
In years past there has been a class barbecue, although each class determines its own traditions. The barbecue is usually held in the high school courtyard, immediately following the mandatory graduation rehearsal.

This event does not involve parents and is traditionally handled by the Senior class officers and advisers, who also determine the (small) fee. It is open ONLY to BHS Seniors and although it is not a mandatory event, most seniors do attend.

Skip Day
This unofficial senior tradition is a thorn in the side of the school administration. This is a day that the Seniors try to “skip” school to participate in some predetermined activity such as going to the beach. Do not be fooled into thinking that the school allows such “skip days”. These days are considered unauthorized absences and are subject to consequences. The student’s plans frequently fall through because of weather, extracurricular activities, sports, etc., but be prepared for a request to call your son or daughter in “sick”. Use your judgment – if your child is going to participate because they have no after school activities and no absences on their record you might just want to call them in “absent”. This prevents your child from being classified as “unexcused/truant”.

Post Prom
After the Prom, most seniors attend in-town house parties (and generally sleep over). However, this evening can be every parent’s nightmare. Be prepared to be bombarded with some outrageous suggestions, such as renting cottages at Hampton Beach, renting hotel rooms, traveling to family cottages without adult supervision, etc.

Parents who are considering hosting a post-prom party should educate themselves about the law. Two areas of particular concern are:

Serving Alcohol To persons under 21 years of age:
Any person without a license to serve alcohol may not serve someone under 21 years of age, unless their relationship is that of parent and child or husband and wife. Violation of this section may result in a fine of $2000, 6 months imprisonment, or both. M.G.L.c.138, #34.
Social Host:
Under Massachusetts law, a host of a party may be held liable for the injuries suffered by others if the host knew or should have known that a guest was drunk and nevertheless gave/permitted the guest to take an alcoholic drink and thereafter, because of the guest’s intoxication, the guest negligently caused injury to others. If the guest who causes an injury is a minor, the host who served the alcohol or permitted alcohol to be served to the minor might be held liable to others even if the minor was already intoxicated when the minor was served alcohol.

More advice from post-graduate parents:
- Communicate with other parents.
- Stick together and be strong!
- Give up sleep for the night.
- Wave goodbye when your Senior takes off for the beach the day after the Prom.

Senior Pranks
Are not allowed by BHS Administration. Parents should be conscious that the consequences of senior pranks can sometimes be very costly. Past offenders have been barred from attending some senior events. Criminal charges, Fines, or payment for damages to Town or Private property are not waived during Senior Week.

Senior Scavenger Hunt
This is another “unofficial” tradition.
The Junior class compiles a list of items to be found or actions to be performed by the graduating Seniors. The “rules” require that no illegal actions be taken and nothing be damaged. Seniors usually compete in “teams” that consist of as many friends as fit safely in one car.

Senior Spoons
An in-school tradition sponsored by peer leaders.
Parents and Students should familiarize themselves with the Senior Spoons Explanation and Rules

Junior Class Bleacher Painting
Graduation night is the night that the Juniors usually fulfill their own tradition of painting the bleachers with their year of graduation. This is an unsanctioned event and is frowned upon by the high school administration. Repairs to the track or bleachers can be costly and funds may come out of the class treasury.