The Class of 2024 celebrated their last day of high school in high spirits and with delicious food and tons of fun. Senior parents ensured that no one was hungry and that there was something for everyone, toting in a breakfast of Snarf’s, Chik-Fil-A, Smoothie King, Dunkin’ Donuts, fresh fruit, Starbucks, chocolate milk, and juice. Students showed up decked out in their college t-shirts and hats, displaying a mixture of nervous excitement and joy. They had decorated Upper School sidewalks the night before, signing their names and writing things like, “Last Day in Hearth!” (When the school day ended at 3:15, the juniors promptly took over Hearth, just like the Class of 2024 did last year.)
The last day of classes for seniors consisted of a mix of last-minute work and fun, with students enjoying treats and running around on scavenger hunts. The Hearth Room stayed abuzz, with various students floating in and out, joking with each other and posing for selfies. A 10 a.m. snack of Pretzel Boys kept everyone fortified for the exciting day.
The afternoon brought more merriment. Lunch was a smorgasbord of Chipotle, Companion sandwiches and salads, chips, decorated cookies, drinks, and Fitz’s Root Beer customized with a Class of 2024 label. Games in the STEM courtyard resulted in fun competition and laughter, and Duo Dogs service animals provided a warm, comforting presence. DJ Reggie showed up to lead the kids in a silent disco, important since all the other grades are still busy learning. A snack with Ted Drewes rounded out the treats.
At 2:40 p.m., the Class of 2024 gathered on the front steps of Olson Hall, bearing their college pennants for a class photo before beginning what was perhaps their most emotional part of the day: the Senior Walk-Through. This tradition allows the seniors to visit all of campus, walking between lines of their fellow school-mates from the littlest learners in Junior Kindergarten through the Middle School (where many tearfully reunited with beloved teachers as well) and finally on the path behind Olson, where ninth- through 11th-grade students gathered to cheer.
The Beasley crowd did not disappoint, with students lining the hallway and chanting, “SENIORS! SENIORS! SENIORS!” before they even arrived. Once there, the upperclassmen hit a lot of high-fives for their cheering fans. Several seniors were emotional as they greeted their teachers from long ago, perhaps remembering fondly their time in the Lower School.
In the Middle School, hugs and tears flowed freely. The seniors walked both the Black & White Hallway and the Eighth Grade hallway to cheers from schoolmates and their former teachers. More tears on both sides were evidence of the connection that our educators make with their students during their time together.
Seniors enjoyed the applause of their Upper School classmates and teachers last, mostly on the path behind Olson Hall. By this point, many seniors were quite emotional. It was finally sinking in that their time at MICDS had (mostly) come to an end. Sure, there are post-season competitions in athletics and the AP tests are looming, but never again will they stroll through these halls between classes or worry about the dress code.
At the end, the senior class flag was passed from the 12th-grade Student Council co-chairs, Devon Carruthers ’24 and Camden-Sinclair Miller ’24, to the rising senior STUCO co-chairs, Lilly Loeb ’25 and Grant LaMartina ’25.
All in all, it was a fitting send-off for these students, some of whom have spent 14 years on this campus. We’ll miss you, Class of 2024. Please come back to visit often!