A few of the senior girls in their overalls after greeting the freshmen the morning after the sleepout. photo by Betsy Leonard
The class of 2022’s senior sleepout was an event to remember.
Seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School gathered near the softball field the night before the first week of school, on August 22nd, 2021, to participate in a long-standing tradition at TJ: senior sleepout. The class of 2022 was filled with excitement as the senior sleepout was the first back-to-school activity of the year. After a year filled with Google Meets and isolation, the upcoming seniors greeted each other with smiles. Students brought sleeping bags, pillows, games, and even air mattresses. There were many activities provided for students, including but not limited to: watching a movie, dancing, playing card games, and chasing each other through a game of Sharks and Minnows. The night was a success as the senior class reconnected for their final year.
Senior Sawyer Beach recalls the experience she had attending the senior sleepout, sharing that she went in with no expectations and found herself enjoying the event as she reconnected with her school friends. Amazed at the turnout, Beach had fun playing Sharks and Minnows as everyone joined in and was able to participate. At the end of the night, she was really excited to sleep under the stars with her friends and celebrate the start of her senior year. Despite waking up with very little sleep and dirt in her hair, Beach was eager to greet the incoming freshmen class. Every year, the morning after the sleepout, the seniors cheer loudly and welcome the freshmen. Beach expressed that she had looked forward to continuing this tradition and hopes it lasts forever. Many seniors agreed that the night was very fun and exciting as it was the first school activity post COVID-19. Beach shared these sentiments as she deemed this night “an A+ experience.”
The night would not have been the same without the organization and support from the counselors and the 2022 senior class sponsors, Margaret Kennedy and Jillian Gleason.
Since last spring, the sponsors have worked with parents and leadership students to organize parent volunteers, food, activities, shirts, and other logistics. Kennedy and Gleason shared that one of the hardest parts of planning for the night was advertising it in such a short amount of time. However, they accomplished reaching out to students by handing out permission slips and promoting the event during the 15 minutes of fame meetings counselors had with the seniors. After a year of COVID-19, the sponsors looked forward to having students participate in activities again. Gleason shares, “My hope was that students would show up and have a good time because that’s what was missing [for] the past year and a half: an opportunity for students to spend time with each other and for kids to be kids again.” Both sponsors agreed that the night was a success, one that had exceeded their expectations and they were very thankful for the parents who helped. The parents organized the SignUpGenius for volunteer parents to spend the night with the students. A lot of coordination was needed to not only make the night happen, but the following morning as well. The excitement continued as the seniors welcomed the incoming freshmen. Kennedy mentions, “I think the tradition is really cool for the freshmen and seniors as it allows the freshmen to remember what it feels like to walk into TJ for the first time.” Freshman Julia Simasko also adds, “I liked how the seniors welcomed us because I think it gives a happy welcoming feeling walking into high school for the first time.”
A lot of organization and communication was needed to make the senior sleepout happen and without the contributions from sponsors, parents, and seniors the event would not have been as memorable. The tradition is special as it only occurs at TJ and students look forward to the event. The TJ community hopes this tradition will continue as it brings seniors together for their final year.
