Students, parents, and staff gathered to celebrate the senior class, who got to paint their own parking spaces with the design of their choice. The morning started with a breakfast cooked by Student/Family Liaison Telisha Dyer with fun continuing throughout the morning thanks to music and lots of paint.
Each student painted their own spot, but the group helped each other through the process, showing encouragement and perseverance along the way. Dean of High School Kierra James said it was an exciting day full of gratitude.
“Students genuinely enjoyed the experience,” James said. “They pitched in to help each other with designs, shared paint, and took as much time as they wanted to make their spots reflective of their unique personalities.”
This form of self-expression was an important aspect, as students left their own mark on Center Line Prep during their final year at the school. With the amount of hard work they put in, students earned the opportunity to personalize their spaces, even students without a car.
“It’s important for our seniors to have this opportunity for self-expression because they deserve to be celebrated for their hard work throughout the years,” James said. “They have worked hard on their academics for years and are starting to see the fruits of their labor.”
The tradition is also giving younger students something to look forward to for their senior year. An incentive as simple as painting the ground can go a long way for students. Putting a personal touch on their final school year can be a lasting memory.
Several staff members joined the celebration, helping paint spaces and playing upbeat music. With family members helping paint and reminiscing on their high school days, the Senior Sunrise created a sense of community for everyone in attendance.
“My heart swelled as I witnessed everyone mingle, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company,” James said. “It was a Saturday morning, a day where no one was required to be at school, yet so many people were willing to make sacrifices to allow our seniors to have this experience. It didn’t feel like a school event but rather a family cook out.”
Before any paint hit the ground, seniors got to take in the sunrise with each other, setting the time aside to enjoy the moment and appreciate what’s ahead for their final year in school.
“The sunrise portion of the day was symbolic of newness and the possibilities ahead for senior year,” James said. “There was music, there was food, there was fun, but there was also the budding of great things to come throughout the rest of the year."
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About Center Line Preparatory Academy
Center Line Preparatory Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Center Line, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through 12th grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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