The week of April 27-May 1 marked Senior Spirit Week for the class of 2026. Senior Spirit Week was a series of themed dress-up days that took place throughout the school week. In order to foster school spirit, seniors are given the opportunity to participate in daily activities centered around specific themes. Each day had a different focus: Monday was Decades Day, Tuesday was Frat Day, Wednesday was Western Day, Thursday was Norsemen or School Spirit Day, and Friday was Commitment Day, when students wore apparel representing their post-graduation plans. The week was organized as a way for seniors to engage in school-wide participation during one of their final weeks of high school.

Different theme days stood out to students for different reasons. For senior and staff writer Isabella Graeber, Decades Day was the highlight of the week.

“My favorite theme day was Decades Day because I loved the overall different styles everyone had, and that it was the nicest day out of the entire week to take pictures,” Graeber said.

Decades Day was also Photo and Design editor Nellier Brenner’s favorite day. 

“My favorite theme of spirit week was decades. I really enjoyed dressing up in costume and channeling the vintage vibe,” Brenner said.

For staff writer Cassandra Vega, different themes stood out for their comfort and energy.

“I loved Western because it’s not something you’d usually wear around here (ever). But my favorite was Frat. I think I saw every senior dress up for it, and even though it didn’t look too different than all the boys’ outfits year-round, I know my girls and I had so much fun in our oversized shirts and jorts. It was comfy and so fun,” Vega said.

Other days carried a different kind of meaning beyond costumes and participation. Commitment Day, in particular, stood out as a more emotional experience for many seniors.

“Commitment day was the most memorable day this week for me. I feel like celebrating commitment day brought people in the grade closer together. While the day was bittersweet, it was exciting to show some spirit for our future schools,” Graeber said.

Senior Managing Editor Anna Schwartz also had emotional sentiments to share about Commitment Day.

“I’m going to remember commitment day, and walking in the hallways feeling proud of everyone around me. I loved representing the place I will spend my next four years,” Schwartz said.

Not only did the Northern Star seniors have fun dressing up, but for Vega, a more lighthearted but memorable moment came from a shared senior tradition. Vega shares the most memorable part of the week for her. 

“The most memorable part of the week for me was seeing all the girls taking photos near the stairwell. I knew this was the photo spot for so many years because of my senior teammates, but I did not know how crowded it would be trying to take photos and make TikToks. It was a funny experience and something every senior girl has to do at some point during spirit week,” Vega said.

Schwartz also feels emotionally connected to the tradition of senior spirit week. 

“For me, spirit week this year meant watching my grade come together as we close off our time at NVD. It felt very surreal to finally be dressing up like all of the senior girls in years past have. I loved getting to walk the halls of NVD showcasing school spirit as a senior,” Schwartz said. 

As Spirit Week has evolved, so has the way students view school spirit. Many seniors recognize a shift in both participation and personal perspective over time.

“As a senior, I have a bigger desire to participate in school events and have school spirit. I think as a freshman, I was too scared to go all out like I do this year,” Brenner said.

Schwartz feels similar sentiments about her participation in senior activities. 

“I think especially senior year, there are so many activities for us that really bring our grade together, starting as early as senior sunrise. I feel like this year I’ve felt so much more connected with my grade, which really makes me more spirited than ever,” Schwartz said. 

With all that in mind, The Northern Star seniors also offer advice to underclassmen who will experience their own Spirit Weeks in the future. Staff writer Hannah Yi and Isabella Graber gave their advice. 

“I think underclassmen should keep school traditions alive because it’s a great way to create unity and a lively school environment makes everything so much more fun,” Yi said. 

“Have fun with it! Don’t let others’ opinions ruin your fun and focus on making memories. Dressing up with friends, taking pictures, and having a good time are all worth your time at the end of the day,” Graeber said.