The Senior Picnic is a yearly tradition for the students of West Morris Mendham High School. It allows the graduating class of each year to get together at the football stadium to enjoy free food and multiple backyard games. It is a great opportunity for the senior class to connect with and enjoy each other’s company before graduation, and this year was no different.
The 2024 senior class showed up on October 11 to the picnic and were greeted by several cornhole stations and spikeball nets spread out amongst the turf. Many of the students gravitated towards the cornhole section and started playing multiple games. Other students went for spikeball and others just waited for the free Chipotle to come out. Everybody had their own form of enjoyment when it came to the senior picnic and the sense of connection and community was palpable during the event. Students were not only talking to their friends but also trying to connect to students they had not spoken to much previously. Students were also thrilled to have this chance to unwind and take a break from the stress of school and of the college application process.
Sponsored by Project Graduation, students were able to sit enjoy free Chipotle with their classmates. After lunch was served, there was also free ice cream from Beanie’s to dig into, but most students went back out into the field to play more cornhole or spikeball. By the end of the event, many of the students were attempting to stay as long as possible before they were eventually instructed to go to their afternoon classes. Whether they wanted to stay because they were trying to finish a cornhole match, a spikeball game, or just really enjoyed sitting on the bleachers enjoying the time outside, it seemed like most students did not want the picnic to end. The overall reception of the students was extremely positive and seemed to be the topic of discussion for the rest of the day as Project Graduation provided a wonderful and memorable lunch for all. Many hope this will happen again before the end of the year.
The Senior Picnic is primarily a place for the students to connect with each other in a fun way without having to worry about the stress of school. It is important for students to have a positive community experience, especially going into their final year of high school. For many students these events for the school are a way to almost have a final goodbye to many of their classmates, as after they graduate there may not be many chances for that.These events provide students with opportunities to end their high school careers on positive notes with a bright look to the future.
