Before the start of the school year, the Class of 2026 gathered on campus for a brand new event: Chalk the Lot. Organized by senior class officers, the event brought together members of the grade to decorate the Athletic Center parking lot with chalk art, to share pizza, and to enjoy a relaxed afternoon before the first day of classes.

Led by seniors Adeola Egbeleye and Ethan Mack, the event was planned over the summer as a way to kick off senior year with creativity and connection. After reaching out to Senior Class Dean Ms. Castellano to coordinate logistics and secure a date, the class officers handled everything–from gathering supplies to spreading the word.

“I planned this event as a way for the senior class to get to know one another better while also getting to have moments of joy before the school year started,” Egbeleye said. “Once we [Egebeley and the class officers] contacted Ms. Castellano, then we brought on Senora Simonds, Ms. Balaszi, and Ms. O’Shaughnessey and went through a lot of checkpoints in terms of date, time, and availability from the staff who would’ve had to be on campus.”

As colorful chalk drawings spread across the lot–ranging from inside jokes to creative illustrations– students caught up after summer break and took photos to mark the start of their final year. “It was such a cute way to start senior year,” said senior Sahana Karthik. “It felt different from other school spirit events, it was more personal and laid-back and gave everyone a chance to just enjoy being together before everything got busy again.”

The success of the Chalk the Lot set a positive tone for the months ahead, highlighting the class’s enthusiasm for community and the impact of student-led initiatives. With its vibrant energy and sense of unity, the event has the potential to become a cherished new tradition for senior classes in the years to come.