Decision Day is May 1: How Will You Celebrate Your Seniors?

Decision Day Event at North Pitt High School in Pitt County. Photo courtesy of Carly Ardila

The seasons are circular for adults; summer following spring as predictably as two after one. But for high school seniors, the bloom of the trees after the bitter cold months are a harbinger of something altogether different: their future.

Come May, the senior year is drawing to an end and students are faced with a crossroads: college, military, workforce — where will they go and how will their decisions affect the rest of their lives?

That’s why schools around the country participate in Decision Day on or around May 1st, commemorating the choices these students make.

What is Decision Day?

May 1st is historically the day by which students must notify colleges of their decision to enroll. It has also taken on a celebratory tone at K-12 schools around the country, where teachers and staff commemorate the choices their students have made for the fall.

How Do Schools Celebrate?

The tenor of the celebrations vary. At Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW Academy), the seniors march through the quad, surrounded by staff and classmates, before getting on a stage, announcing where they will be going in the fall, and ringing a bell to loud cheers.

At Smithfield-Selma High School in Smithfield and Chapel Hill High School, staff host pep rallies to celebrate seniors who are going into college or the military.

South Central High School in Winterville, North Carolina holds a “Gym Jam” that includes a “College Essentials” donation raffle to support seniors going off to college.

 At North Pitt High School in Pitt County, parents, families, and staff come out to the school and gather in the auditorium. During the ensuing presentation, each student has a slide representing them and is called to the stage and given a certificate.

Recognizing that some seniors will want to enter the workforce rather than go to college, some schools invite employers and military recruiters to talk with students who are committed to getting a job or joining the military after high school.

Those are just some examples. Whatever you do for Decision Day, the goal is to make sure that students feel as though their decisions are being celebrated and that they have support for the next chapter in their lives.

So, What Can You Do?

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Decision Day. All you need is a way of highlighting all students who have a plan after graduation.

You could hang a “College Bound” banner in a prominent area of your school and have seniors sign it. Alumni could come back and share their college experiences. A slideshow commemorating each student and their post-secondary plans is sure to leave nary a dry eye in the house.

Here are some other ideas:

• Student Video: Allow students to record short videos on their phones saying their post-graduation plans. Play the video during your Decision Day event.
• Giveaways and contests: These items can be something from the school’s office like swag or things students would enjoy. Make sure to ask for donations from local businesses with enough notice.
• Pennant design: Have students decorate a paper pennant showing where they are headed for college.
• Canvas painting: Provide small canvases and paint to students to enjoy painting. You can give students instructions on what to paint or allow them to pick from a selection.
• Sports tournament: If you are holding the event at the school’s gymnasium, you can host basketball and volleyball tournaments, allowing all students participating in Decision Day to form teams and play.
• Photo booths: Design a backdrop and adopt college-themed props for seniors to use to take photos.
• Snacks table: If possible, consider having snacks (chips, donuts, cookies, sodas) available for participating students to enjoy. 
• Social media: Have students post their pictures from Decision Day to social media using #CFNCDecisionDay.

“Students have worked hard to get to this point,” said Joseph Rampersad, associate director of college access at the NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). “Now is the time to celebrate their future.”

So now is your turn to show your students that life goes on after high school. Decision Day is only a few short months away. Start planning how you will celebrate your students now. And check out CFNC’s handy Decision Day toolkit for resources that will help you plan.