St. John’s Juniors Gain Senior Status

After 140 seniors received their diplomas on Tuesday night, May 16, they departed the Great Lawn and said their final goodbyes to the St. John’s “storied cloisters.” In launching their graduation caps into the warm and breezy night air, the Class of 2017 essentially turned over their senior status to the junior class, who will first endure a week of finals starting this Friday.

The departure of the seniors is a significant turning point for not only themselves, but for the juniors that will follow in their footsteps. Seniority holds myriad special privileges that juniors and upperclassmen excitedly await throughout their high school careers.  

One of such traditions is the ability to step foot on the hallowed “Quad.” A patch of grass in the middle of the Quadrangle building, the Quad is reserved for seniors and alumni only. Non-seniors are strictly prohibited from walking, running, playing, sleeping, relaxing or even crossing from class to class on the Quad. Now that the seniors have officially graduated, juniors are free to relish the privilege they have been awaiting for three years.

Seniors often install hammocks between the trees of the Quad for relaxation, or put up Badminton nets to cope with “Senioritis.”

“Getting to experience the Quad is the culmination of all the hard work we have put in these past three years,” junior Dani Yan said. “It will be a place for us to finally relax and take it easy.”

Other senior traditions include parking in Senior Lot, a privilege juniors were granted last Friday, and senior tea. Juniors had their one and only “junior tea” last Thursday, and will indulge in senior tea every Tuesday and Thursday next year, in which senior parents will cater luxurious spreads of food from restaurants or from their own home cooking for the seniors’ enjoyment.

“I love the idea of senior tea,” Yan said. “Free food is always great, but it’s even better when we can enjoy it with our friends. I am so thankful for all the amazing parents that provide senior tea; especially with the stress that comes with the SJS workload and college applications, it really is a blessing.”

Perhaps the most anticipated senior privilege is Senior Country, a lounge in Trammell Hall designated for seniors only. Equipped with televisions, game systems, food, speakers, a foosball table, computers and lounge furniture, Senior Country is the envy of all underclassmen that pass by its large windows.

“I’m looking forward to using Senior Country because it has been a tradition for a long time. Even my mom had it when she went to St. John’s,” junior Caroline Ramirez said. “I love how it’s a communal area for the entire grade to get together and bond.”

Many juniors have already stepped up into their senior roles for next year. Senior positions that have been filled include prefects (senior student affairs council members), team captains, editors for The Review and The Quadrangle (the newspaper and yearbook, respectively), Chapel Guild Chairs, Tour Guild Chairs and various club presidents. The applications for Spirit Club Captains have recently been emailed to the rising senior class, and Senior Peer Leaders were announced Wednesday.

A new position open to next year’s seniors is a permanent role as the school’s mascot. St. John’s will be purchasing a new mascot costume, complete with a new name for the Maverick, “Lil’ Chids.” The position is open to all rising seniors.