As the color blue and senior crowns fill the halls, the class of 2026 starts off the new school year strong, celebrating their first spirit day of the year.
As part of a plan to celebrate seniors on the 26th of every month, on Aug. 26, seniors were able to dress up in their class color, blue, and wear their senior crowns, with a surprise during both lunches.
During lunch, seniors walked around, took pictures and celebrated around the school. Commotion started as students saw a mariachi band show up and walk towards the South Patio. As they set up, students formed a crowd. The mariachi band introduced themselves and started to play songs like “La Bamba,” and maracas were passed around to students. Students danced all around the band, requested songs and took videos.
“Having the mariachi at school was so much fun. It really reminded me of my culture and I love how it brought all the seniors together,” senior Isabella Alzate said. “It makes me look forward to the other senior activities.”
Class of 2026 committee member, senior Nehama Tourkia planned the event as a kickoff for seniors to get excited for the new school year.
“In Mexico, it’s a very big tradition to bring a mariachi band to celebrate a big event. So we just had the idea and executed it,” Tourkia said. “I looked up mariachi bands and their prices so that they would meet the class of 2026’s budget.”
During the senior orientation that took place earlier that day, administrators explained all senior activities and requirements needed to graduate. Towards the end of the orientation, Activities Director Michelle Russell explained that every 26th of the month there would be a senior spirit day, and that there would be a surprise for seniors to look forward to during lunch.
“Last year we had a meeting in April to talk about all the plans for the 2025-2026 school year and the student committee really wanted to make a point of making sure the seniors knew that it was going to be a good year,” Russell said. “They wanted to embrace the fact that we have a lot of spirit and that this year was going to be fun.”