Newburyport High School - School Traditions and Major Organizations

School Traditions and Major Organizations

Newburyport High School has many traditions, all outlined in the school's rulebook, the Clipper's Compass. Among these traditions are:

Color Day: A major class competition and football rally between each grade at Newburyport High School. Each class has a specific duty to perform, the Freshmen Class presents an original cheer, the Sophomore Class presents the traditional "Poster Parade", the Junior Class present an original song, and the Senior Class performs an original skit. Furthermore, each class must decorate a certain part of the auditorium and dress up in school colors. The class that best exempifies these traits, as well as demonstrating the best school spirit is named "the Winner of Color Day" and awarded the "Color Day Jug". Color Day traditionally takes place on the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving

Senior Week: Usually the first week in June, Senior week is the week preceding the graduation of the Senior Class. There are a number of traditional activities that are planned by the Class Officers during this week. Which include

Senior Trip: An entire class event designed to bring the graduating class together while being far from home

Vespers: A solemn (formerly religious) ceremony featuring speeches by a number of students revolving around a central theme.

Ivy Day: Newburyport High School's oldest tradition, where the exiting Senior Class plants a sprig of ivy next to the school to symbolize their time as students. The silver trowel used to plant the ivy is then passed to the reigning Junior Class President, who accepts it on behalf of his/her class and adorns the trowels with ribbons in their class colors. The Class of 2013 currently holds the trowel.

Senior Banquet: Usually at a restaurant in Boston, this is when the yearbook (En-Aitch-Ess) is presented to the Senior Class, and copies are signed by students.

Senior Prom: A dance following the promenade of students on the front steps of the school.

Senior Singout: The culmination of the Class Historians' work throughout the four years of at NHS, it is a forty-five minute multimedia presentation (predominantly a slideshow) featuring pictures of the class dating back to kindergarten.

Graduation: Featuring student/upper level staff speeches, as well as the conferring of diplomas by the Mayor of the City of Newburyport.

Senior Celebration: A tradition dating back to 1989, parents work together to produce an all-night substance free celebration for graduates which often takes them to various locals around the state, capping off the Senior Week activities.

Class Organizational System: Newburyport High School relies on the four respective class governments as a primary source of student leadership, each class consists of one faculty class advisor and five elected class officers, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. Although generally divided as a result of age differences, these groups occasionally coordinate entire school events. The current Class President is Jillian Ouellette; she was preceded by Alex Bradley: Senior Class President of the Class of 2012.

Field Day: Occurs in early June, organized by the faculty, and features a number of popular games, entertainment, and a dance the same night.

Spirit Council: A group made up of all class officers, team captains, and one member of each club, the council is a new initiative designed by students to restore a sense of school pride and enthusiasm. Although a relatively new club, it already exerts tremendous pull and authority under the superior guidance of Senior Class President Jillian Ouellette.