On Friday, September 19, at 7:00 AM, the class of 2026 was invited to attend Senior Sunrise at Bloomfield Hills High school on the football field. The dim morning started off with fresh donuts, bagels, cream cheese, posters, and cozy blankets.
Although senior sunrise is a relatively new tradition at BHHS, student leadership representatives have been working to increase its popularity over the last few years. The concept is simple: seniors gather together to watch the sun rise over the football field as a way to mark the beginning of their senior year.
“It’s the first opportunity for seniors to come together as a full class,” said Student Leadership Advisor Rachel Matz. “It’s a great way for seniors to start their year together as one cohesive unit and to celebrate the start of senior year.”
Students gathered on the football field to take pictures together with signs and posters made to celebrate the start of their senior year.
“When I was in high school, I had a teacher who, for seniors in particular, always said ‘You now begin a series of lasts.’” said Ms. Matz. “And so, Senior Sunrise is kind of that first, last fall celebratory way to be together as seniors.”
As students watched the sun rise, they got the opportunity to enjoy some breakfast, relax, and have a fun morning with their peers.
Behind the scenes, Student Leadership was setting up and planning the event. Contessa Brandon said that Student Leadership was working hard, “…Calling different bagel places or different places to get breakfast and asking for donations… and then meeting to make posters that people could take photos with.”
The event was well-attended, with over a hundred seniors arriving before dawn.
“My favorite thing was being in the environment with all my friends that I grew up with and looking back that it’s our last year that we’re going to be together” said Senior Solei Ewing.
Mia Feingold said, “My favorite part about Senior Sunrise was getting to see all the seniors come together and celebrate, like, our last year together at the high school.”
For many seniors the morning was a memorable time that represented the beginning of the last year of high school.
As senior year has officially begun for the class of 2026, Student Leadership and Hawkeye Advisor Ms. Matz offers a friendly piece of advice to all seniors.
“Let yourself be in high school. Don’t be in a rush for what’s next,” said Matz. “Let yourself be in the moment and enjoy things as a high schooler for the last time.”
There’s a series of events that awaits the class of 2026 and Senior Sunrise is a fun and cherished tradition that sets the tone for the rest of the year.
