The senior seahawks had been preparing for their final skit since May of the previous year. Student council began constructing characters and a plot even before students and parents began practicing in the fall. For seniors, their parents got an extra opportunity to perform their own skit, just like their kids. Additionally, these senior students prepared posters thanking their friends and families for their support. Since the beginning of this tradition, it has been a very emotional event for all seahawks. However, due to thunderstorms on the night of skit this year, the students and parents were unable to perform at Sunlake. With an incredible amount of collaboration, the class of 2024 organized a time to do the parent skit and poster walks at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center. Fortunately, the recreation center kept the lights on and concessions open a little later so seniors and their families could still treasure the event.
Senior Zoe Bastable and her mother, Ms. Camper, were both in skit. Camper teaches geometry at Sunlake and is the sponsor for the class of 2024. Even though skit did not go as planned, Bastable was pleased that it kept its tradition of being “…an emotional experience for the seniors,” and an opportunity to leave a “…final mark before saying goodbye.” Other than the emotional parts, it was very entertaining to see all the parents dance. Some of the dads were even dressed up as different Taylor Swift eras. Bastable’s mom was not only a dancer in the skit, but was also “…front and center and doing the dances perfectly.” Bastable expresses how, unlike some of her other classmates, she was not embarrassed of her mother; she was proud of her and thought she killed it. Following the parent skit, moms, dads, and siblings walked out with posters of their children. Students ran up to the posters, crying and hugging their loved ones. To add to the emotion, the parents picked tear-jerking songs to do this to. Following this, was the poster walk the students did. The class of 2024 lined up with “thank you” posters decorated with pictures of their loved ones and heartfelt messages. They all took turns walking down with their friends to again, emotional songs. This moment was bittersweet and “…felt like the first official goodbye to the school after four amazing years.” Finishing off the night, Bastable and a couple of her friends gave a special “thank you” to Ms. Camper, which was hidden on the back of their posters. Camper was very surprised and grateful, and the class of 2024 meant it from the bottom of their hearts.
