A senior's high school life is an interesting blend of challenges, pressure, optimism, and a whole lot of fun! Below are common events and milestones for a student in their final year of high school. Many events/deadlines below may not apply to your situation since each student will have a very personal plan for what they will do after graduation by senior year. Your guidance counselor will be in contact with you often this year to make sure you are set up for success after you leave Beverly High School. However, you don't need to wait for your guidance counselor to come to you. Make an appointment if you have questions!

There will still be activities/deadlines that are optional but encouraged like joining a club or signing up for Project Rise (O), and some may be only for EL students or completed in a different year because of their EL status (EL). Generally you can join a club/activity at any point during the year. Registration for sports begin prior to the season starting.

Semester 1

• Club, activity, and fall/winter sport signups/registration (O)

Find the current list of clubs/activities here and information on sports here.

• Senior Yearbook Photo and Quote (R)

Senior photos allow seniors to have a more formal or creative photo than in previous years. Most students have this photo taken the summer before their senior year. Yearbooks focus on seniors so the senior photo will also be larger. Senior photos include a short quote underneath. This might be a quote from a favorite author/singer, a line from a song/movie, a traditional message wishing everyone thanks and good luck, a nostalgic thought about high school, or a funny inside joke that only your friends will understand. You should have your senior photo and quote ready by the end of Semester 1.

• Start looking for colleges/universities (O)

There are many great colleges and universities out there and many fields to study while you're there. Talk with your guidance counselor about what you want to study and which colleges would be a good fit for you. Please watch this video for more information on the timeline to follow for attending college.

• Order Graduation Cap and Gown

If you want to attend graduation, you will need to wear a "cap and gown." This is what a graduate wears to graduation. Here are some pictures from the graduating class of 2021. Before winter break, you will receive information during your advisory on how to order your cap and gown.

• Start REACH Program Research

Seniors should start planning what they would like to do or where they would like to complete their REACH internship early in their senior year. Applications and requests for location will start early in their last semester. More information can be found here and will be provided in your advisory.

• Annual ACCESS test (EL)

Our yearly ACCESS test occurs (outside of the Covid pandemic) in January. Students are tested over four days on speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This test is required for all English Learners and is extremely important! Find more information on our EL page here.

Semester 2

• Club, activity, and spring sport signups/registration

Find the current list of clubs/activities here and information on sports here.

• Apply for Scholarships

If you plan on going to university, you will need money as university is very expensive in the U.S. Scholarships are financial awards you can earn that can help you pay for university. You do not have to pay scholarships back. Talk with your guidance counselor about the different scholarship options available to you. Please watch this video for more information on attending college and options to pay for it.

• Senior Prom

This formal dance is for 12th graders toward the end of the second semester and is a highlight of the year! The senior prom's location may change each year but is usually a few miles outside of Beverly. Many people dress formally and may come with a date, but this is not required. If you want to attend, you need to register and pay a fee. If you are worried about the fee and/or transportation, ask a teacher for more information.

• Lawn Sign Pickup, Rolling Rally, and Senior Week

  • Under construction

• REACH Internship and Fair

REACH Internships will begin the Monday after April Vacation and continue for four weeks. The Internship finishes with a fair where students show what they did and what they learned. More information can be found here and in your advisory.

• Finish Essex Tech Program and Apply for License

Under construction

• Graduation Rehearsal

Before graduation there will be a rehearsal to make sure everything runs smoothly. Your graduation class (and you) will need to know how to line up, how everyone will enter the stadium, where you'll be seated during the ceremony, how you'll get up and make a line to get your diploma, how to accept your diploma, where you'll walk to after getting your diploma, and also know the order of all of the other events during the ceremony. You'll also probably get other information like when to come on graduation day.

• Graduation!