Celebrating Senior Year: A Time of Reflection, Tradition, and Joy

A student’s senior year is a pivotal chapter—marked by firsts, lasts, and memories that will last a lifetime. At Dana Hall, we are committed to helping our seniors honor this special time through meaningful traditions, special projects, and weekly class meetings designed to reflect, connect, and celebrate. 

Each year begins with a beloved Dana Hall tradition: the Harbor Cruise. Dressed in their class colors, the senior class joins the entire school for an unforgettable day of food, dancing, and fun as they cruise the Boston Harbor. For seniors, this event is both a celebration and a milestone–it’s the first time they get to join in a cherished informal tradition: gathering in a circle on the dance floor to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel. This powerful moment—eagerly anticipated since 5th grade—is the first of many memories the senior class will create together. 

Soon after the Harbor Cruise, seniors host the Senior-Sophomore tradition, officially welcoming the sophomore class to the Upper School. This event fosters meaningful connections and passes on the excitement and spirit of Dana Hall to younger students. 

Similarly, the Mid-Winter tradition in February connects the seniors with the junior class in a symbolic “passing of the torch.” Juniors are welcomed into Dana Hall’s legacy by their “silver sisters” in the senior class, deepening their understanding of the school’s history and the values of sisterhood. 

Throughout the year, Senior Class Deans guide and celebrate the senior class. In the fall, class meetings are dedicated to preparing for traditions like Senior-Sophomore and Mid-Winter. As spring arrives, the focus shifts to reflection and celebration. 

Seniors are invited to participate in a special video project, sharing their favorite aspects of campus, cherished memories, and highlights from their Dana Hall experience. On the evening before graduation, seniors and their families gather to watch this video together—an emotional and joyful look back on all they’ve accomplished. 

We also take many opportunities to celebrate the senior class. Whether it’s a small party marking 100 days until graduation, planting their class tree on campus, ordering their senior t-shirt, or being officially welcomed to the Alumnae Association at their final class meeting—each event marks the transition from student to alumna. 

The pinnacle of this celebration is Senior Convocation, held two days before graduation. During this heartfelt ceremony, each grade, as well as faculty and staff, presents a gift to the seniors in recognition of their time, leadership, and spirit.

I recently asked some seniors about these traditions and celebrations and what they mean to them. Here is what they shared: 

“Being able to pass traditions down to the younger students feels really special because we’ve loved these traditions and now we get to share that love with students who will continue them and will continue to make Dana Hall such a special place to be!”

“Planting our class tree felt very special because we’ve gone through Mid-Winter and Senior-Sophomore but it never felt so real that I was leaving Dana until then, it was so bittersweet but I’m so excited to be an alumna and to come back and visit for special events!”

“I’ve been here since the sixth grade and have gotten to watch seven classes go through their Senior Convocation, each year my seat has moved closer and closer to the stage and, this year, I’m really looking forward to being at the front with the other seniors to be celebrated!”

Between their final class meeting and Senior Convocation, seniors embark on their Senior Projects—a unique opportunity to shadow professionals in a chosen field, applying research, networking, and real-world skills. These projects allow students to explore interests beyond the classroom and take ownership of their learning. Seniors present their projects the afternoon before graduation, sharing what they’ve discovered and experienced during this immersive journey.

While senior year can bring challenges—college decisions, goodbyes, and the bittersweet feeling of moving on—at Dana Hall, we ensure that it is also a year grounded in gratitude, reflection, and celebration. 

As our seniors prepare to sail into the next chapter of their lives, they do so with confidence, resilience, and the enduring support of a community that will always be home.