LWHS Senior Year

Families of Seniors – What to Expect Senior Year

Senior year is a busy time for students and their families. LWHS PTSA has created this page to provide an overview of the various activities happening throughout the school year.

Note that you and your senior will be informed through various channels of these items (ASB, College and Career Center, Kang News, Parent/Student Square etc.) and should be taking charge of most everything listed below. We will update this webpage regularly; check back frequently for the most up-to-date info.

LWHS has a senior and yearbook section on their website with more information: LWHS Senior Graduation Information.

 

Fall:

  • Senior Sunrise (ASB sponsored): Typically the morning of the first Friday of school (Sept 4, 2026). Seniors meet at the LWHS baseball field to watch the sunrise. Many seniors purchase and wear white/purple/black overalls self-decorated in LWHS colors to this and other events throughout the school year.
    • Example overalls - Purchase by mid-August and hand-decorate
    • Fabric dyes and paints can be purchased at stores like Michaels, Ben Franklin, or Amazon.
  • Yearbook Orders – Sept to Jan: Parents and students are usually given an opportunity to contribute content to the yearbook (e.g, senior recognition ads, senior quote, student photos, etc.). Your student’s school photo will be included in the yearbook, UNLESS you choose to upload a digital photo. See the school website for the most up-to-date deadlines and requirements. - Yearbook Info 
    • Senior Pictures (optional - if your Senior does not want to submit a personal senior photo, then the school photo will be used in the yearbook.
  • College (Much more information regarding post-high school options, including 4 year colleges, 2 year colleges, technical schools, gap years is available through the LWHS College and Career Center.
    • SAT – LWHS typically provides a school day in October, known as "Super Wednesday," where students can take the SAT at school. Fees apply, see the College & Career Center for more information.
    • College Essay Workshops (PTSA sponsored – volunteers welcome) – Sept to Jan. Experienced volunteers are available to help students edit college application essays. CEW is a program of LWPTSA Council. College Essay Workshop – Lake Washington PTSA Council 2.8 
    • Teacher Recommendations: Ideally, requests for a recommendation letters are done at the end of junior year and letters are provided the fall of senior year. See the LWHS College & Career Center for more information.
    • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a single financial aid application submitted to colleges. It provides colleges with a federal standard in determining financial aid offers; including grants, scholarships, work study, loans and more.
      • Beware of false application sites, or companies offering to fill it out for a fee. Families can do it themselves at no charge; the official federal site is https://studentaid.gov
  • Cap & Gown Orders – begin around October: Jostens is the LWHS vendor for these and many other graduation related items. Look for communication directly from the school regarding ordering information. Some families choose to look for hand-me-down caps/gowns from past years. LWHS provides caps/gowns for families in need. See the Senior Graduation Information page on the school website for details.
  • Athletics and Activities Senior Celebration (throughout the year) – Most sport teams, clubs and activities such as, Music and Drama host a “senior night” where families and members are invited to attend.

February-April

  • Senior Party Tickets go on sale, read description below or click here for ticket purchase.
  • Senior Signs and Decals go on sale, click here for information.

May

  • Decision Day: May 1st (or thereabouts): LWHS usually does some sort of photo booth so students who have decided their next steps can wear/bring their college swag for photo opportunities. 
  • Senior Announcements – optional: These are professionally printed announcement cards (like a baby announcement), often with a senior photo included. These are given, or mailed to friends and relatives as a way of announcing the student’s graduation and plans for the following year (college, gap year).
  • Senior Prom (ASB sponsored): Senior Prom is a formal dance hosted off campus. Attendance is limited to the senior class, though seniors may choose to ask a student from a lower grade to accompany them. Students usually dress in formal attire, and it is common to gather at Carillon Point, or Kirkland Marina Bay for photos before the dance. 
  • Senior March End of May: Elementary schools invite seniors back to walk the halls and enjoy being celebrated by staff and younger students.

June

  • Senior Awards Ceremony (by invitation): evening award ceremony presented by LWHS; students receiving an award will receive an invitation from the school.
  • Senior Farewell: an informal celebration of graduates with family and friends, specifically to provide photo opportunities for seniors dressed in cap & gown. It can be difficult to find time on the day of graduation to get all the photos families may want. This celbration is held in the LWHS Commons.
  • Senior Sunset:(seniors only) immediately following Senior Farewell. Like Senior Sunrise, but the opposite! Unlike Senior Farewell (where parents and families of seniors are invited), this is a student only event.
  • Moving Up Assembly (ASB sponsored): occuring during the school day, this ceremony commemorates the seniors' exit from their usual spot and juniors taking their place.
  • Senior Breakfast (ASB sponsored): followed immediately by Graduation Rehearsal.
  • Graduation: The district, in coordination with each high school, plans the official graduation ceremony.  Graduation rehearsal is held the day before following senior breakfast.
  • Senior Party: (PTSA sponsored – volunteers needed): is a chaperoned event for seniors to celebrate in a safe and fun manner with their classmates on graduation night. The ticket price includes transportation to and from venue(s), food, and a variety of entertainment. Please see our Senior Party Info page for more details. Senior Party is a major event planned and run completely on a volunteer basis by LWHS parents. If you’re unable to help volunteer, please consider donating money or goods to the Senior Party.

Last updated Nov 28, 2025