Two events held on campus in honor of “soon-to-be-graduate” seniors each year are the Senior Farewell Assembly and Senior Dinner.
The 2015 Senior Farewell Assembly featured an advice video from the seniors to the underclassmen. The humorous video featured various seniors giving useful advice and words of encouragement to the Grade 9-11 students.
Highly anticipated at the farewell assembly is the exchange of gifts between the classes. Traditionally, the Senior Class selects a candy or snack that represents each grade below them. The Class of 2015 gave the following:
To the rising sophomores: Sour Patch Kids because the candy’s slogan is “Sour, Sweet, Gone,” much like the high school experience. To the rising juniors: Lifesavers to help them survive the upcoming Diploma Programme (DP) years. And to the rising seniors: Lucky Charms because a bit of luck and a dash of charm always help during the final year of high school.
Gifts to the Senior Class were just as creative such as the “Survival Kit” from the rising juniors that included 11 little gifts with a reason for each:
· A lifesaver: to keep afloat during first college finals
· A piece of gum: to help stick to it and not give up
· A band-aid: for when things get a little rough
· Tissues: for issues
· A penny: so that no senior would ever be totally broke
· A paper clip: to help hold it all together
· A K-cup: to keep them up
· Nerds: to help study
· A Snickers bar: a reminder to laugh when feeling down and out
· An eraser: a reminder that each day can start with a clean slate
· A balloon: a reminder to always reach for the sky
Seniors (L-R) Jami Alamar, Jenna Minami, and Zachary Chuberko smile after receiving class gifts from the sophomores during the Senior Farewell Assembly.
Second row: Seniors Tara Norton, Fiona Rutgers, Sarah Etinas, Ella Axelrod.
Attendees at the Senior Dinner include the graduating students along with faculty and staff from across the school’s grades. This bittersweet evening is a unique time allowing closure to the high school experience and an opportunity for all to say “thank you” to one another. It is a night full of joy (mixed with some tears), an acknowledgement of community, a celebration of shared learning, and a testament to the lifelong bonds of friendship that form at Island Pacific Academy.
Highlights from the 2015 Senior Dinner included a surprise performance from Micah “Jay Z” Banton, the Secondary Dean of Students, accompanied by DP Coordinator Jenna Gatti; a video presentation with baby, toddler, and Grade 5 photos of the seniors; letters that the students had written to themselves during thier freshman year to be opened at the dinner; and a special gift to each senior from the school.
Retiring DP English instructor Dr. Wally Ingebritson spoke to the Senior Class at the Dinner.
Dr. Ingebritson’s speech was followed by all seniors immediately standing on their chairs shouting out “O Captain! My Captain!” in his honor.
Secondary Dean of Students Micah Banton appeared as “Jay Z” and performed as promised for the Senior Class during the dinner.
IPA Arts Department Chair and Theatre Instructor, Brandi Dul (on stage), gets assistance from Secondary Principal Kip Cummings and Senior Class Sponsor and Art Instructor Roxy Ortiz (standing).
Seniors react with laughter and tears as they open and read letters to themselves they wrote as freshmen.
2015 Senior Class President Jenna Minami told her fellow classmates, “As a only child, all of you have became my siblings, my family.”
Dr. Ingebritson is handed a collection of poems titled “Poetry Everyday” by senior Jami Alamar.
