With the new year now in full swing, the Class of 2025 is officially starting the countdown to graduation! In less than 100 days, the Senior class will go on to different paths and enter a new chapter. Lake Highland has many unique traditions, but there’s something particularly special about the ones reserved for Seniors. As Seniors approach the final stretch of their Lake Highland journey, these traditions become more than just events. They are milestones that celebrate growth, friendships, and all the memories created over the course of several years. From Grad Bash at Universal Studios to Senior Prank Day, Senior traditions capture the essence of what it means to be part of Lake Highland’s legacy. But notably, one of the most significant and rewarding Senior traditions is the ringing of the bell to signal a student’s college commitment. This tradition has come a long way and evolved over the years at Lake Highland.
Before the bell even became a part of the picture, there used to be a glass wall in the College and Career Center of Calkins Library that included a picture of a Scottish Highlander for each member of the Senior class with their name under each graphic. Once a Senior committed to their college of choice, it was tradition that they would stick a label featuring the name of that college at the bottom of the Highlander. Around 2010, Lake Highland’s college counselors attended a conference with other college counselors around the Orlando area. While discussing their different practices, Ms. Lynn Stewart, Dean of College Counseling, was inspired by a tradition held by a few other college counselors in which a bell would be rung to signal a student’s college commitment. With that idea in mind, Ms. Stewart bought a tiny desk bell for the College and Career Center so that Lake Highland Seniors could celebrate every college that they got accepted into. Soon after, students would bring their friends, and eventually family members, to witness them ringing the bell. This helped build an environment of excitement and accomplishment for each college acceptance. Later, a larger hanging bell was added to replace the desk bell, where Seniors could turn the handle and have the bell turn in circles to ring. However, with every Senior joining in on this tradition, it came to a point where there were too many bell ringings so the college counselors had to limit the ceremony to only college commitments, not acceptances.
With the opening of the Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics, the Senior Wall is now located at the bottom floor of the building in the Tillman Family Student Center. Instead of a picture of a Highlander, each Senior’s final yearbook photo is showcased, along with their name. When a college commitment is made, and the student rings the bell, their college will be added next to their picture and name. Sophia Safder, grade 12, explains, “I can’t wait to have a more solid idea of what my future will look like and also celebrate with my friends and family that I committed to a college.”
The ringing of the bell has a more organized structure this year. Seniors will have to schedule a time slot to ring the bell only on “College T-Shirt Day,” which is the second Tuesday of every month. More preparation goes into this tradition than many think. Because the wall has plastic slots, instead of just sticking on laminated paper, it takes time to have the new label printed with the college’s name. Last year, the bell was housed with the college counselors, instead of next to the wall, so during bell ringings, the bell needed to be moved from their offices to the Senior Wall. However, this year, “Ring the Bell” days will happen in the Jackson Breezeway prior to posting the name of the college on the wall. With all of these preparations and changes, Ms. Stewart recommends planning ahead. A newsletter from the College and Career Center was sent out over Christmas Break to the Senior class with a Google Form that they can access to sign up for a designated day to ring the bell. The best plan is to sign up early and communicate with friends and family when and where to celebrate.
Ringing the bell is undoubtedly a treasured Senior tradition, but there are also a number of other traditions to look forward to this semester. The Senior class has already enjoyed receiving their Senior jerseys, Senior Surprises organized by the Senior Moms, Senior Sunrise, off-campus lunches, Senior Retreat, Halloween Carnival, and holiday luncheon. Now entering the last semester of their high school career, it’s easy for Seniors to catch “Senioritis,” which is the newly coined term with mainstream usage for a decline in motivation and educational performance felt among students nearing the end of their final school year. However, there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of traditions and celebrations. For example, the Senior Trip, Grad Bash, Senior Day of Reflection, Senior Prank Day, Senior Sunset, decorating cars, and Baccalaureate are all exciting events that are long-standing in Lake Highland history.
There are countless Senior traditions from the past that aren’t carried on today. Ms. Ginger Bryant, English 11 teacher and founder of the Orlando Chapter of David Copperfield’s Project Magic, is an alumna of the Class of 1990. She shares, “During Homecoming, we had a huge, raging bonfire by the lake in a sandy pit, and we built and decorated a Senior float for the Homecoming parade. We also had the Senior Block that was in the center of the lake that we would decorate and graffiti.” Ms. Bryant also thinks back on her “Powder Puff” Football games where, “The Senior and Junior girls were the players, and the Senior and Junior boys either cross-dressed as cheerleaders or served as coaches. I feel that the traditions have become more safety conscious over the years, and are currently even more fun.”
When Dr. Brenda Walton, LHP Historian and Upper School English teacher, first came to Lake Highland in 1977, graduation was held in the gym. Before the ceremony, a big breakfast in the cafeteria was held for the Seniors, teachers, and the Board of Trustees. The Trustees gave speeches and then handed out Bibles to the Seniors. The Bible gift is a tradition that still continues today. Past traditions at Lake Highland are still remembered by the teaching staff, with some missed and some gone for good. Only time will tell if some may resurface.
With 2025 opening up windows of opportunities, the Senior class is ready to kick off the New Year with the ringing of the bell, signaling the start of a new era. So much is in store for Lake Highland Seniors as they come closer and closer to graduation. We all share a bittersweet feeling but are excited for the next chapter of our lives.
