A long-standing tradition at Blue Valley has recently become a topic of discussion among students and faculty: senior skip day.
What was once considered a celebratory day for the upperclassmen has transformed into multiple, sparking debates on its original purpose.
Senior skip day, historically a singular event, allowed seniors to come together and bond in their limbo of soon-to-be graduates.
However, with the proliferation of multiple skip days, concerns arise about diluting the importance of the event. Senior Ziyad Suwan and biology teacher Azie Pickert weighed in on if its evolution has helped or hindered the BV community.
“I feel like it gives you a sense of freedom — it embodies the feeling of being a senior,” Suwan said. “You’re done with your ACT and all the stuff you have to do for school, and you’re just enjoying life.”
Pickert calls for a similar sentiment to the act itself, but in the newer generation its execution has been underwhelming
“The name gives itself away: senior skip day — not days,” Pickert said. “In all seriousness, if you have something that comes up in the real world, you have a personal day, but I think the name is supposed to be unique to it, like you’re actually skipping. It loses its flavor. When you have so many of them, you lose sight of what it truly is.”
Pickert does not negate all the benefits and enjoyment of “playing hooky” but questions whether students are actually gaining the memories crucial to the senior experience.
“Why not go to, for example Shawnee Mission Park and grill out?,” she said. “Enjoy your day, play volleyball or in the spring go to a Royals game.”
The implications of altering this tradition extend beyond student enjoyment. It raises questions about responsibility, community and the evolving nature of the actions in them.
As BV navigates this debate, students and faculty seek a balance between preservinga tradition and maintaining academic integrity. This underscores the significance of collective responsibility in shaping school culture.
“Now it’s not a fun day — it’s just more of a ‘I’m not going to come to school day,’” Pickert said. “Go do something as a class and remember your senior skip day.”
