As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, senior celebrations continue. From the senior spork game to our forum senior send-off, today, May 23, 2024, was one of the last celebrations for the seniors. The next is graduation, where CHS sends the seniors into their next chapter of life.
By 2 p.m., the class of 2024 gathered in the craft theater, where Noah Kahan’s song, “You’re Gonna Go Far,” blasted throughout the theater, creating a sentimental setting for the celebration. Dean Marci Tuzinsky and Assistant Dean Rebecca Westrate stood onstage as seniors filed into the room. Seniors were seated with their fellow forumettes, whom they had experienced high school with.
“When I was walking into the theater, I finally began to fully realize that I’m graduating in a week,” Ari Taylor, a CHS senior, explained. “I just remembered being a junior and seeing all of my senior friends on their last day and thinking, ‘Wow, that’s going to be me one day.’ And now that day is here, and it’s full of so many crazy, exciting and sad feelings.”
The afternoon of remembrance started with a speech from Westrate. Her remarks were full of congratulations and moments for reflection. She then invited students to come up on the stage to grab a candle.
“The candle is going to signify everything that you’ve done here for the past four years,” Westrate said. “It’s going to represent all of the light from your forum leaders, from your parents, from your friends, your peers and yourself that you’ve done to create this transformation over the last four years. The other thing that this candle does is signify your place here at Community.”
One forum at a time, seniors crossed the stage and claimed their candles. They were met with handshakes and hugs from the deans. Once they were back in their seats, Westrate took the stage again to give some final advice.
“Think about your ups and your downs from the last four years,” Westrate said. “You’ve had some battles over the last four years; you’ve had some wild successes over the last four years, and you’ve done a lot on this personal journey. So just take a moment here to pause.”
After a moment of reflection, the candles were blown out one by one, and the room was in darkness. To conclude her speech, there was only one thing left to say.
“We love you; we’re proud of you. Congratulations,” Westrate said.
Next, chairs were pushed back as the class of 2024 made their way into the hallway to collect their t-shirts before heading to the front.
Lastly, the moment everyone was waiting for happened — the tossing of the colorful clouds of color. Seniors created a circle by the front of the school, so they could all run to the middle as they threw the colorful packets in the air. Releasing the colors in the air, in the center of the circle, as they all run in brings them together. Each senior leaves the circle covered and stained with powder, with a wide variety of colors on their clothes.
“It was so fun to have one last hurrah together as a class, and if it was the perfect way to do it, that was just so Community,” Anya Akhoury, a CHS senior, said. “The powder was so fun, and running was so chaotic. It made sense to run into the middle because we are quickly coming up to graduation, and it was special celebrating all together before we all leave and go our separate ways. I’ll definitely remember that forever, and I really miss this place.”
