Senior year. The last year of high school and the beginning of your adult life. 

Part of the appeal of senior year is all of the traditions that take place in highschools across the country such as senior assassin, senior sunrise/sunset, senior prom, post-prom parties, awards, graduation pictures, and of course graduation itself. With all these events the one that has caused the most stir in Lockport as of recently is the annual senior ditch day. 

Every year since anyone can remember, all the seniors at Lockport pick one day when almost all of them skip school to do anything. Typically this happens the Monday after prom. It is crucial in the camaraderie felt between students, and they often make plans with friends for the extra time that they usually don’t have. 

April 28, 2025 was designated as the senior ditch day following prom weekend. However, Monday morning came and the fun was ruined completely. Seniors and their parents received a grim email stating that if their child was not called in sick or absent on Monday, they would be serving a day long in school suspension when they return. The email specifically addresses “Class Ditch Day” and emphasizes that they will never promote such plans. 

Not only is this email incredibly blunt for no apparent reason, but it serves as a sad reminder that  even as the school year winds down, even seniors are expected to continue their academic grind instead of enjoy their last days of high school with their friends. This long standing tradition now carries the price tag of a harsh punishment, scaring many seniors into going to school. 

Teachers plan their lessons around this day as even they are aware of the event and do not expect students to be in attendance. Seniors graduate in less than a month and they are simply trying to maximize their high school experience. 

For Lockport to turn such a fun tradition into a harsh punishment is simply dissapointing. Many may find it ironic that the punishment being given for participants in Senior Ditch day is to sit in one classroom all day, missing more class. The logic for this punishment is nonexistent as the school is basically forcing students who didn’t go to class to have another day of not going to class. 

Lockport should open their minds and accept that a big part of senior year and its charm is not the classes you take, but the lifelong memories and bonds that are formed. Having the support of staff would make the memory of the school itself much more positive.