Mon Sep 23 23:09:28 UTC 2024: ## Sydney Students Embrace Wholesome Senior Sunrise Trend
**SYDNEY** – As the end of high school approaches, Sydney’s Year 12 students are ditching the traditional “muck-up day” shenanigans and embracing a more wholesome way to mark the occasion: senior sunrise.
Inspired by a US trend where students gather at sunrise on their first day of senior year, Australian students have adapted the idea to celebrate the end of their schooling journey. This past week, groups of Year 12s have been setting their alarms pre-dawn to watch the sunrise at iconic beaches like Bondi and Palm Beach.
“We sat and watched the sunrise and went for a swim,” said Presbyterian Ladies College Sydney school captain, Sarah McPhail, who organised a senior sunrise gathering at Bondi Beach. “There’s a sense of nervousness about finishing, but excitement because we were able to achieve so much.”
Barrenjoey High School in Avalon Beach has been a pioneer of the senior sunrise trend in Sydney, hosting a dawn walk for Year 12s since 2001. This year, over 140 students, parents, and teachers gathered at Palm Beach to watch the sunrise over the Barrenjoey Lighthouse.
“It was a bit of an early start, but I would say it’s definitely worth it,” said Barrenjoey High School captain, Noah Smith.
Other schools like Brigidine College in St Ives are also embracing the trend, with students gathering at Mona Vale Beach to enjoy the sunrise together.
This shift towards more positive and meaningful ways to mark the end of Year 12 is a welcome change from the often alcohol-fueled and disruptive celebrations of the past. The senior sunrise trend highlights the desire for a shared experience of reflection and camaraderie before the challenges of HSC exams begin.
First Piper 