Soft light from candles illuminates the faces of seniors as they watch the sun set behind Legacy. After months of planning, the senior class will host the annual senior sunset on May 15 at 8 p.m., followed by the PTSA senior carnival.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling because a lot of people are very happy to be graduating, but you’re also leaving behind your friends,” senior class sponsor and AP government teacher Danielle Panzarella said. “I think they get that moment to reflect on everything that they’ve been through and done and all the people that help them through it. Then they get to go and play around on the field, like kids. It’s like a return to your youth.”
Each year, a candle lighting ceremony occurs while the seniors watch the sunset. Following this, the senior class president, Katherine Keating will provide a speech, addressing the year and what will happen following graduation.
“[The Ceremony is] meant to represent the idea that even though we’re all different people, we all leave with something from Legacy that we had in common, that we were here, that we went through this experience together,” Ms. Panzarella said. “Even though we’re technically blowing out our candle at the end of the ceremony, we keep that light with us.”
Following the ceremony, students can attend the PTSA senior carnival. Food will be provided to all attendees, along with free admission for seniors participating in the event.
“It brings me great joy to offer an opportunity that allows our seniors to just be kids and have a blast celebrating their accomplishments for free,” senior events coordinator April Green said. “We hope the senior carnival makes every senior of Legacy feel celebrated and seen.”
The carnival will include bounce houses, photo stations, a DJ and games. By participating, students earn prizes, both large and small, and commemorate their achievements in high school with their friends and family.
“The carnival was created to give all seniors a chance to celebrate with their friends,” Ms. Green said. “We don’t want anybody to feel like they can’t come to the carnival, that is why it is free.”
Both of these events allow seniors to close out their year as a whole class. Organizers, such as Ms. Panzarella, feel that the senior festivities act as a symbolic end to the school year as they welcome their futures.
“It’s nice to get to look back on the year and think of all the things that we did, especially with my senior class officers,” Ms. Panzarella said. “[Senior sunset is] one more chance for us to just get together and say, look at all that we accomplished in a year.”
