Lost Worcester Academy Traditions
Writers: Olivia Hernandez and Eleanor Reynolds
As graduating seniors, we took the time to reflect on our time at Worcester Academy and have looked back on traditions formerly celebrated on the Hilltop.
Graduation Walk with Friend(s) – Eleanor Reynolds
As my sister was a member of the Class of 2019, the final graduating class prior to the COVID pandemic, I remember how she walked hand and hand with a girl she had met in middle school and had been friends with ever since. It was beautiful and emotional, and ever since, I have wanted to have a similar experience. Because of the pandemic, the school had removed this tradition and instead changed it to alphabetical order on the walk down; however, I think the Class of 2025 deserves to bring this tradition back, being the last high school class that experienced the pandemic at Worcester Academy.
Early Senior Release in May – Olivia Hernandez
Previous years saw seniors being released from classes in the earlier weeks of May. This year, however, members of the Class of 2025 are being let out on May 28th, approximately one week before graduation. Some claim that the new policy is to ensure that the graduating class completes their commencement requirement of a discovery project. However, this rule is receiving pushback from graduating seniors, as getting rid of the earlier release day drags out the rest of the school year for the graduating class.
Middle School New York Trip – Eleanor Reynolds
While I wasn’t in the Worcester Academy middle school, I know that this trip was a major milestone for middle school students prior to COVID. After witnessing my sister travel to New York with her grade, I saw how this experience brought kids together as they backpacked through the Big Apple. It was my sister’s first time in New York, and she got to enjoy it the old-fashioned way, backpack and all. I wish our middle schoolers still got this bonding trip to bring their already close-knit class together even further.
No Finals for Graduating Class – Eleanor Reynolds & Olivia Hernandez
By May, all seniors are unfortunately checked out, so giving them a final can be seen as useless. While some may find merit in reviewing the graduating class’s mastery of the year’s material, it can seem unlikely that a student will be deprived of walking on Graduation Day for forgoing a final assignment. Personally, we feel that placing an additional academic burden, such as finals, on the graduating class is unnecessary. I don’t think that this tradition has any academic value, as graduating seniors have been preparing for the next chapter of their academic careers since September rather than focusing on final-year assignments.
Live Bagpiper – Eleanor Reynolds & Olivia Hernandez
While some may argue that this celebration was a costly feat for the administration, and a recording can provide some convenience given the organization of the event, the tradition of a live bagpiper has become an enjoyable event for the school community. The historical tradition that appeared during the Board of Monitors’ Tapping, Commencement, and Convocation was something that became sentimental to WA students. Unfortunately, we now use a recording of his work instead of having the bagpiper perform live. I hope he’ll make an appearance this June 6th for the Class of 2025’s graduation.