Senior Skip Day

Credits: liahonaacademy.com

Senior Year is filled with fun traditions and memories, from iconic school dances to some more tacit ones, including senior skip day. When the senioritis or the stress is hitting too hard, some seniors will skip school to catch up on schoolwork or take a breather. Senior skip day began in the 1930s as a way for students to feel rebellious and celebrate the end of their academic career. It was popularized by the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Although it isn’t an official tradition at VHHS, some seniors will join in on the fun. When exactly is senior skip day, and what will the Rebels do on their day off? 

There are actually two common senior skip days: one around Halloween and another around prom. Halloween is on a Friday this year, so seniors are skipping to prepare for the festivities. It is also the day before a major Early Action deadline, so others are having less fun making essay tweaks or filling out the Common App. Sometimes, seniors skip the day after a major event like Halloween or prom because they stayed up late. Other senior skip days have been around Thanksgiving, Spring Break, or even the leap day in 2024. 

Most of the reasons for skipping are simple and wholesome. Many seniors simply want to sleep in and get good rest for once. Others plan to treat themselves by playing video games, watching Netflix horror movies or shows, and hanging out with friends. Procrastination spills from schoolwork to Halloween, so some are making really last-minute costumes or finalizing their party plans. It really seems to pile up once you realize you haven’t coordinated the rides or what everyone’s going to bring! 

Ironically, some seniors are skipping school to make up schoolwork. It could be senioritis hitting, but it’s difficult to keep track of all the due dates while writing college essays and taking some of the hardest classes in school. Some are also cramming in college applications to survive the Early Action deadline. Even if they haven’t procrastinated on their forms and essays, it never hurts to take a day off and carefully review everything or have final essay opinions from friends. It’s better to submit the day before than the day of!

And yet, some studious Rebels are still coming to school on Halloween. Reasons include tests, important lessons, practice, or simply because they don’t need to skip. Luckily for them, the teachers also know about senior skip day and might be in the Halloween spirit to go easy in class!